Senator Cheruiyot responds to reports of bipartisan team earning millions

By Peter Ochieng

Nandi Senator Aaron Cheruiyot has responded to reports of members of the Kenya Kwanza – Azimio bipartisan talk team, being paid millions of shillings in allowances.

According to an article published in one of the dailies, the team led by former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Kimani Ichung’wah was being funded by the government to the tune of Sh106 million.

A big chuck of the money, the article states would cater for the ten-member team’s allowances as the rest goes to the technical team’s allowances, and other expenditures such as venue, security and food.

However, Cheruiyot who doubles up as majority leader in the Senate denied the allegations of committee members being paid.

He is a member of the committee, representing President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

“Please establish the facts of any matter before running a campaign on it. We have never been paid any allowance. There has never been a charge to taxpayers on behalf of the National Dialogue’s Committee (NADCO),” the Senator stated in a statement on X, formerly twitter.

According to the report, the committee’s co-chair, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and national assembly majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah, would get Sh50, 000 each per sitting for the 20 sittings they will lead.

The other 8 dialogue committee members would take home Sh40, 000 per sitting, while the bipartisan talks technical team members were expected to earn Sh25,000 per sitting.

Other expenditure mentioned in the article include Sh4.6 million which will be paid to Bomas of Kenya as the host, Sh8 million for a retreat in Naivasha, Sh2 million for air tickets, Sh2.4 million for advertising and Sh10 million for publishing the final document.

Former Mukweini Member of Parliament (MP) Kabando wa Kabando wants Musyoka to come out clean on the allegations.

“We, once again, challenge VP emeritus @skmusyoka to deny that already overtaxed Kenyans are being skimmed more to pay people already on public payroll. Maandamano was about cost-of-living crisis, not useless forums to deodorize secret, covert, night parleys.”

The former legislature maintains that the bipartisan talks are a waste of time.