By Shadrach Bethel,

Parliament has distanced itself from the allegations that Members of Parliament including those who subscribe to the opposition were paid Sh 40 million in cash to “thank” them for passing the supplementary budget.

Reports of MPs receiving money emerged last week but it was not until this week when NUP ordered its legislators to return the money, that some MPs admitted receiving the money.

NUP leadership alleged that NRM members were given the money in cash at Parliament while opposition MPs received their bounty from the home of Anita Among, the speaker of Parliament.

However, in a statement, Chris Obore, the director Communication and Public Affairs at Parliament, said the allegations [of receiving money] are not true.

Obore said if indeed there has been any such payment by Parliament to MPs outside the known procedures as the NUP claims, this would have been the right time for the party to interest the accountability committees, chaired by its members in the matter with evidence for action.