Embu MCAs defend allocation of Ksh.11M for gym services

Members of the Embu County Assembly have defended the allocation of Ksh.11 million to cater for their gym subscriptions saying it is meant to act as preparation for the national inter-county games.

This comes after Embu County Assembly Speaker Josiah Thiriku disclosed that the county had allocated money in the 2018/2019 budget for gym, aerobics and sauna services for the leaders, claiming that the money will help MCAs who he noted had added weight for the last 10 months.

Speaking on behalf of the members, Majority Leader Michael Njeru dismissed reports on the gym allocation saying the information had been misinterpreted.

Njeru, who is also the Kithimu Ward Representative, explained that the money had not been allocated for gym services per se but for the upcoming competitions in Kakamega.

The majority leader, who also doubles as a member of the budget committee, further stated that they are pushing for the construction of a Ksh.300 million assembly complex which will have state of the art gym facilities, hotel and offices for the MCAs and their staff.

Nominated MCA Sicily Warue, on the other hand, said there was need for leaders to stop using public money for their own interests but, instead, use them to address the many challenges faced by the people.

Embu Catholic Bishop Paul Kariuki castigated the assembly proposal to pay gym services for the 33 MCAs terming it a misplaced priority.

Speaking in Kithimu, Manyatta Constituency, Kariuki wondered why public funds should be used to help leaders lose weight, adding that even the Catholic Church has never paid for such services.

He called on the leaders to resign if they have gained weight and are unhealthy, to pave way for other leaders who are medically fit and are in a financial position to cater for their own gym services.