While the average Kenyan juggles debts to afford a single meal, their representatives are currently ensconced in the lakeside luxury of Naivasha, racking up a bill that could build classrooms. The optic is disastrous: a government preaching austerity by day and practicing opulence by night.

The ongoing Legislative Retreat for Members of the National Assembly has become a lightning rod for public anger. Officially, the agenda is "Marshalling House Business" and reviewing the legislative calendar. Unofficially, it is viewed by many as a taxpayer-funded holiday for a class of leaders who seem immune to the economic pain they legislate.

A Tale of Two Countries

The contrast is jarring. In the same week that Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi warned of a looming supplementary budget due to revenue shortfalls, MPs are enjoying full-board accommodation at top-tier resorts where a night’s stay costs more than a teacher’s monthly salary. Reports indicate that the retreat will cost the Exchequer tens of millions of shillings in per diems and logistics.

"It is dishonourable waste," said one civil society activist. "You cannot ask Kenyans to tighten their belts while you loosen yours to accommodate another buffet. This retreat could have been held at the Parliament buildings in Nairobi at zero cost."

• The Education Crisis: While MPs retreat, the Education Ministry admitted it "does not know" the actual cost of educating a child, a shocking admission of incompetence that leaves parents vulnerable to arbitrary fee hikes. The irony of discussing education reforms in a luxury resort while schools lack funds is lost on no one.
• The Tax Burden: The retreat comes as Kenyans brace for more taxes to plug the budget deficit. The Finance Act 2025 has already squeezed households dry, and the promise of "no new taxes" rings hollow when government spending remains unchecked.

The "Austerity" Charade

This gathering exposes the performative nature of Kenya’s austerity measures. Travel bans are issued and ignored. Benchmarking trips continue. And now, the Naivasha retreat has solidified the perception that parliament is an expensive club rather than a house of service.

As the MPs finalize their report this Friday, they will likely issue a communiqué filled with lofty goals on governance and accountability. But for the citizen paying KES 200 for a packet of unga, the only message received from Naivasha is one of indifference. The feast continues, and the bill is on us.