The (East African Legislative Assembly) EALA MPs zoom meetings have become quite expensive as the assembly has reportedly used SHS 10billion in regards to allowances for zoom meetings between July 2020 and January 2021 as reported by Chimp Reports.
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Members of the EALA claim that this money and much more has been spent to hold zoom meetings which they are now demanding for.
An extra SHS 9billion is the amount that has been claimed by the East African Legislative Assembly in allowances for EALA MPs zoom meetings held between March to August 2020.
When this invoice was presented by the MPs asking for their expenses to be covered, there was a lot of controversy as they claimed that the expenses came from holding virtual meetings and travel.
EALA MPs zoom meetings expenses least of their worries
Each member was claiming $560 for each meeting held from the Ministers’ residences or the Ministries in their home countries that last for about 20 to 30 minutes. Zoom meetings have been the best option in the wake of the pandemic that requires people to keep safe distances from each other to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Just like any institution, the East African Community follows strict financial rules. According to these rules, allowances can only be granted when a person travels and spends the night away from his place of residence. However, the MPs did not even have records to prove attendance.
It has however been recommended by the head of the EAC Secretariat, Secretary General Liberat Mfumukeko who proposed that each MP receives $50 for virtual meetings which was immediately rejected by the MPs.
The EALA MPs zoom meeting expenses are just the tip of the iceberg for the East African Legislative Assembly’s financial problems. Most MPs have committed their salaries in loans which has left them terribly indebted. Members of Parliament are entitled to $6500 per month but the majority of them go home with less than $500 because of these debts.
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