We paid for our children’s trip to Dubai – first couple

President Hage Geingob and first lady Monica Geingos have defended taking their children along on official state business to Dubai, saying they have paid for their expenses.

In a press statement issued on Monday, the first couple refuted allegations of their children travelling at the government’s expense, despite government regulations prohibiting this.

“The Namibian public and the media should rest assured that not a single cent of public funds has been spent on the children of the first couple,” they said.

This is in response to a provisional list of the Namibian delegation published by the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) secretariat, which included the children of Geingob and Geingos.

The children named on the list are Kayla Elago, Nino Kalondo, Dangos Geingos, and Nangula Geingob.

“For the past nine years, president Geingob and the first lady have not deviated from the treasury regulations of the government of the Republic of Namibia, which make it explicitly clear that children of the first family do not qualify for flight tickets and expenses to be paid for by the government,” the statement reads.