A visiting South African MP was shocked by the lavish lifestyle of Kenyan politicians

A South African Member of Parliament (MP) Nqabayomzi Lawrence Saziso Kwankwa spent a day with a Kenyan MP, and he went back home wishing he could switch countries.

Mr. Nqabayomzi, the United Democratic Movement’s Chief Whip who earns more than R80,000 a month as an MP, (about Ksh.538,000) took to Twitter to express his surprise at how wealthy and lavish Kenyan politicians live, compared to their South African counterparts.

The legislator was in Kenya and spent two days with Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura and the experience left him utterly gobsmacked.

He was in the country for a two-day consultative meeting with parliamentarians from East Africa.

Shortly after meeting Mr. Mwaura, the legislator posted a photo of their meeting on Twitter captioning it: “Spending a day with Hon. Dr Mwaura today in Nairobi, I realized that I am an MP for a wrong country. 😜 MPs here have a driver, a bodyguard, a PA, a researcher, a communications officer & an admin assistant.

He went to say that Members of Parliament in South Africa do not have such luxuries and have to fend for themselves.

https://twitter.com/N_Kwankwa/status/1225474569282170882?s=08

In a follow-up post on social media, the outspoken MP said the lack of technical support for South African MPs negatively affects the quality of their inputs and contributions, as well as their ability to effectively oversee the work of government.

His post elicited mixed reactions from South Africans and Kenyans alike:

The wastage is why when they are sick, they rush to your hospitals. They are shameless crooks. We are forced to put up with.

— #RIPMoisVictims (@RobertAlai) February 7, 2020

“Tshawe I understand your frustration but Kenya has been there long before us. However, we may have to benchmark with Kenya. Although we are renowned with the best constitution in the continent or world but the support systems to SA MPs are a challenge.”

— Bantu Holomisa (@BantuHolomisa) February 6, 2020

“South Africans are laughing at us Kenyans. Sir, we’re powerless and divided along our tribal lines and they take advantage of that. The MPs only unite when passing legislation to increase their pay and give themselves other benefits.”

— Philosopher (@Philosopher254) February 6, 2020″

Iagine such pompous living whilst your subjects are drowning in poverty 🤷‍♀️

— Ngwato M. Thobejane 🇿🇦 (@TsipaA) February 7, 2020

When sick they rush to SA hospitals, their Children are in SA schools, their Wives shop in your Malls…. What does that tell you about our MPs?????

— #BuyerBeware (@JacksonNjeru254) February 7, 2020