MPs want answers on Ruto's West Africa trip

Wednesday, May 22, 2013 -- BY DAVID MWERE

MPs yesterday asked for answers from the government on the controversial trip by Deputy President William Ruto where he used a luxury jet to tour different African countries.
MPs said majority leader Aden Duale should also explain the criteria used to pick MPs and Senators who accompanied Ruto in his trip.
This came as the Public Accounts Committee said it will begin its independent investigations on the controversial trip by Ruto to the West African Countries.
Committee vice chairperson Cecily Mbarire said the committee was determined to investigate the trip claimed to have cost the taxpayer over Sh100 million yet the government has maintained that the trip cost the country Sh18 million.

The trip took Ruto and his entourage to Congo, Gabon, Nigeria, Algeria and Ghana, in what was described as an assignment to promote the PanAfricanism.
“We are determined to investigate the matter once it is brought before the committee because that is our mandate,” Mbarire revealed at parliament buildings moments after she was elected to the position.
On the floor of the House, Ugenya MP David Ochieng sought a statement saying the House needed to be told the truth.
The MP wants an explanation on the purpose and benefit of the visits.
He said the House should be given details of the individuals who accompanied the Deputy President, the creteria used in selecting them and whether Speaker Justin Muturi sanctioned the travel of MPs Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga) and Alice Ng'ang'a (Thika Town).
"Kenya Airways flies in the region. The majority leader must explain if it is government policy to hire expensive jets when there is the president's jet that he should have used. He should tell Kenyans whether the procurement law was used and the overall cost," Ochieng said.
Duale promised to issue a comprehensive statement today. He said he will table evidence to show that former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka was using the same jet.