Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s bi-partisan team leader Kalonzo Musyoka had suggested that the talks be held at Serena Hotel in Nairobi.
Kenya Kwanza team leader Kimani Ichungwah however in a statement proposed for the talks to be held at a public event in what was seen as a cost-cutting move.
“We respectively request your team to allow the two teams to schedule our meetings at public venues such as County Hall,
“The venue that will not occasion any additional expenditure to the public and which would otherwise be available for such public meetings at little or no cost to us or to the Kenyan Taxpayers as opposed to the luxurious five-star Serena Hotel, Nairobi,” Ichungwah stated.
However, the 10-member negotiation team formed by President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is now seeking KSh 106 million to facilitate the Bomas talks.
According to a budget document exclusively obtained by Daily Nation and adopted by the National Dialogue Committee, almost KSh 6 million will go into allowances, refreshments, and conference facilities.
For instance, the National Dialogue co-chairs Kimani Ichungwah and Kalonzo Musyoka will each receive KSh 50,000 sitting allowances for every sitting.
The duo is expected to attend a total of 20 sittings meaning that the Wiper leader and the National Assembly Majority leader will each pocket KSh 1 million in allowances.
The other eight members will each receive KSh 40,000 in allowances for every sitting attended translating to a whooping KSh 6.4 million.
The document further indicates that KSh 10 million would be spent on document translation while KSh 15 million would be used to publish 1000 copies.
