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MPs are at it again and this time they have created a special fund that will ensure they wine and dine in a five-star-like catering facility.
Through the new Parliamentary Catering Fund, legislators will enjoy some of the finest foods and drinks, some of which will be outsourced from high-end hotels.
Besides allowing for the outsourcing of catering services, new regulations developed by the Parliamentary Service Commission will also see chefs and other staff of Parliament’s restaurant and bar trained to international hospitality standards.
And in what is going to overburden the taxpayer, some of the money for these expensive catering services will be “appropriated by Parliament”.
Lavish lifestyles
This means MPs are permitted to finance their lavish lifestyles by simply allocating the fund tax cash, according to the new regulations signed by National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi on June 24.
National Assembly Clerk Micheal Sialai, who shall administer the fund, told The Standard yesterday that although the regulations allow for the allocation of monies to the fund by Parliament, it will only be done “when it is necessary".
“Otherwise the fund will generate funds for itself,” Mr Sialai added.
The clerk explained that the creation of the fund was necessitated by the need to have the Senate given an oversight role in the administration of Parliament’s catering facilities.
The objective of the fund shall be to purchase catering equipment, manage and administer facilities.
The Parliamentary Service Commission, which came up with the regulations, may contract outside catering services.
Members will be both current and former members of Parliament.
The regulations have also established a committee of eight persons from both the Senate and National Assembly who will be responsible for the management of the fund.
“The Commission may if it considers it appropriate and upon advice by the Committee engage such experts or consultants to assist in the discharge of the functions of the Fund upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine,” reads part of the Public Finance (Parliamentary Catering Fund) Regulations, 2019.
In November last year, MPs protested what they termed as ‘poorly’ prepared food served in Parliament’s cafeteria, vowing to push for the implementation of a House report that recommended radical changes in catering services.
