Nairobi MCAs threaten to reject Kidero’s Sh36 billion budget
Nairobi County Assembly members have vowed not to pass this year’s budget, accusing the executive of withholding Ward Development funds.
The standoff threatens to bring services in the city to a halt if the MCAs do not approve the Sh35.89bn 2016/2017 budget whose deadline is June 30th 2016.
The Ward Development fund has been allocated Sh1.6 billion in the 2016/2017 budget which will enable the Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) implement projects in their wards.
GIVE AN ACCOUNT
The County Assembly Speaker Alex Ole Magelo said the executive should give an account of the ward development funds set aside every financial year and how the money has been spent. He said the assembly has never approved a bill supporting expenditure of the funds.
Majority Leader Elias Otieno told the assembly that the executive has been using them by promising goodies during the budget period that are never fulfilled.
“Some people are lured with goodies, including promises of pieces of land, to pass the budget year in year out and the executive fails you and you end up with nothing. Therefore the Speaker should not bring the budget to the assembly,” said Mr Otieno.
Mr Magelo has also blamed the executive for not releasing funds to the assembly promptly especially gratuity and development monies.
The Speaker directed the Budget and Appropriation Committee to table the amendments to the Ward Development Fund Bill by Tuesday next week .
He added that the executive has been allocating funds to projects which are never implemented by the end of every financial year.
