Members of Parliament (MPs) will travel to Mombasa using the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) for the upcoming 14th East African Community (EAC) Inter-Parliamentary Games, scheduled to take place from December 6 to 17, 2024.
The decision, announced by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula on Tuesday, is part of Parliament’s ongoing efforts to reduce public spending.
This directive applies to all Members of Parliament, including the Speaker himself.
However, it remains uncertain whether lawmakers will choose premium class tickets, which cost approximately Ksh12,000 for a one-way trip and Ksh20,000 for a return journey.
The move is in line with the government’s broader austerity measures, which aim to curb public expenditure.
These measures also include the dissolution of 47 state corporations with overlapping functions and the elimination of confidential budgetary allocations in various executive offices.
The 14th EAC Inter-Parliamentary Games will see participation from nine East African Community member states: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Somalia, which is taking part for the first time, alongside the host nation, Kenya.
The event will feature a wide array of sports, including football, netball, volleyball, basketball, athletics, tug of war, darts, and golf.
In Mombasa, Kenya Ports Authority’s Mbaraki Stadium will host football and athletics events, while the Aga Khan Academy will serve as the venue for basketball, volleyball, netball, and darts.
The academy will also double as a training facility for football and tug of war.
Additional football training grounds will be at Uwanja wa Mbuzi (Hassan Joho Stadium), Sheikh Zayed Academy, and the ASK Showground in Kingowea. Basketball competitions and training sessions will take place at Makupa Members Club.
