TAXPAYERS’ EXPENSE
Kenyans up in arms as 20 MPs go on ‘official business’ to World Cup
Nairobi — Kenyans voiced outrage on Thursday as it emerged that a group of MPs had gone to the World Cup at the taxpayers’ expense, even though the country had failed to qualify for the tournament. The scandal erupted after some of the legislators posted selfies on social media of themselves at matches in Russia. "Isn’t that a big, bad joke, that leaders can travel all the way to Russia to watch football when we have a lot of problems here?" asked Sylvester Aseka, who sells computers in Nairobi. "Oh my God, I want to believe that is not true, the pictures some of them are posting," said Jacinta Mong’ina, 26, a student. "It means they have a lot of time and resources to go to Russia. When will they serve their constituents?" The Star daily newspaper reported that about 20 MPs had travelled to Russia at the start of the month and were expected to attend Sunday’s final. The cost of accommodation, per diems and match tickets was being carried by the government, it said. The Star’s estim...
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