Kenyan MPs Ordered to Refund Allowances as US Trip is Canceled

The scheduled trip to the United States for Kenyan Members of Parliament (MPs) has been canceled due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

A group of MPs was set to attend the annual two-week United Nations meeting on the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women in New York from March 9th.

On Tuesday, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi canceled the trip citing coronavirus fears. 

As a result, Speaker Muturi directed all MPs who were slated to attend the summit to refund the per diem they had already received ahead of the New York trip.

This came a day after the UN Commission on the Status of Women cut back the two-week forum to a one-day event due to the global outbreak of the dreaded virus. 

The decision followed recommendations by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The commission said a full meeting would be held at a later date.

Coronavirus, which originated in China’s Wuhan city, has spread to at least 60 countries, including the US, where it has killed six people.

Globally, the disease has infected more than 85,000 people and killed about 3,000, mostly in mainland China.