Kenyans were left stunned after it emerged that a Member of Parliament had spent Ksh 5 million on a lavish tent setup for a bursary distribution event — an amount that exceeded the actual bursary issued, which stood at Ksh 3 million.
The event, held in a rural constituency, featured an extravagant white marquee tent fitted with air conditioning, deluxe seating, branded decor, and a high-end public address system. Catering services, security, entertainment, and logistical support further ballooned the event’s cost, sparking public outrage.
Residents questioned the logic of spending more on the event than on the bursary itself — funds meant to support needy students in accessing education. Critics described the event as a glaring example of misplaced priorities and a misuse of public resources, particularly in a country grappling with high youth unemployment, a strained economy, and underfunded schools.
“This is the kind of reckless extravagance that leaves many of our children out of school,” said a local activist. “It’s not just wasteful, it’s insulting.”
Defending the event, the MP claimed that the setup was necessary to maintain “dignity” and to offer a “memorable experience” for beneficiaries and local leaders. However, public trust appeared further eroded, with social media users branding the move as “tone-deaf” and “a circus paid for by the suffering taxpayer.”
The incident has reignited national debates around budget transparency, constituency development priorities, and the urgent need for accountability among elected leaders. Civil society groups are now calling on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to probe the expenditure and audit similar events across the country.
As Kenyans continue to demand better governance, this latest controversy adds to a growing list of concerns about the misuse of funds that could otherwise transform lives — especially in the education sector.
