Embu Majority Leader Defends Allocation of Sh11 Million Gym Fees for 'Overweight' MCAs

Members of the Embu County Assembly have defended the allocation of Sh11 million to cater for their gym subscriptions.

Over the weekend, Embu County Assembly Speaker Josiah Thiriku said the county has allocated Sh11 million in the 2018/2019 budget for gym, aerobics and sauna services for the leaders.

Thiriku said the funds were allocated after realizing that the MCAs had gained weight for the last 10 months and needed to cut it, a plan that sparked outrage from leaders and residents from the county.

“The Assembly Service Board has factored that members need to be fit. I think all of us have added some weight. We have factored some money for members to participate in activities geared towards their fitness."

"We shall be paying subscriptions for members who wish to join gym and aerobics or even sauna to lose some weight,” Thiriku said.

Speaking on Monday on behalf of the MCAs, Majority Leader Michael Njeru dismissed the reports, stating that the information had been misinterpreted.

Njeru, who doubles up as the Kithimu Ward Representative, explained that the money allocated for gym subscription was meant to prepare the MCAs for the upcoming national inter-county games in Kakamega. 

He said this will allow them be physically fit ahead of the games. The games bring together staffs from each of the 47 counties to compete in football, basketball, volleyball among other sports.