While the Kenyan economy gasps for air under the weight of debt and taxation, Members of Parliament have retreated to the manicured lawns of Naivasha, racking up millions in what critics are calling a "legislative holiday" disguised as a strategy session.

The optics could not be more jarring. As of Monday, January 26, the entire 13th Parliament—National Assembly and Senate leadership included—descended upon a luxury resort in Nakuru County for a five-day retreat. Ostensibly, the agenda is "Marshalling House Business" and reviewing the legislative scorecard. However, the timing, cost, and the growing perception of Parliament as a mere rubber stamp for the Executive have turned this retreat into a lightning rod for public anger. Why, taxpayers ask, must "securing a legacy" cost so much when the average citizen can barely secure a meal?

The cost of "Bonding"

Investigative analysis of the retreat's logistics suggests a staggering bill. With over 400 legislators, support staff, and security detail in attendance, the daily burn rate for accommodation, conference facilities, and per diems is estimated to run into the tens of millions of shillings. This expenditure comes at a time when the Treasury is preaching austerity.

• The Venue: A high-end resort in Naivasha, known for its serenity and exclusivity—and price tag.
• The Allowance: MPs are entitled to substantial per diems for parliamentary business outside Nairobi, inflating the cost further.
• The Justification: Speaker Moses Wetangula has defended the gathering as a "constitutional imperative" to align priorities for the upcoming Fourth Session.

Rubber Stamp or Watchdog?

Beyond the cost, the existential crisis of the 13th Parliament is on the agenda. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-3)Reports from Auditor General Nancy Gathungu and scathing critiques from civil society have painted a picture of a legislature that has abdicated its oversight role. The term "rubber stamp" is no longer a whisper in the corridors; it is a shout in the streets.

Insiders intimate that one of the heated closed-door sessions will address this very image crisis. "We are being strangled by the Executive," one MP from a swing constituency confided on condition of anonymity. "We pass the Finance Bills, we look away on appointments, and now our constituents are waiting for us with stones. This retreat needs to be about survival, not just scheduling."

The 2027 Shadow

Looming over the buffet tables is the spectre of the 2027 General Election. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-5)The retreat is heavily focused on "electoral preparedness," with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) expected to brief the House. The discussion on the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) is also critical, as MPs scramble to secure funds that are the lifeblood of their re-election campaigns.

As the retreat continues until Friday, the disconnect between the political elite in Naivasha and the struggling wananchi remains the defining story of the week. Parliament may be "securing its legacy," but at what cost to its integrity?