Six months later, higher bills and few laws for city
County lawmakers only passed five laws for the six months they have been in office.
This translates to one law a month in the face of a prolonged boycott of Assembly sittings by County Reps demanding higher pay.
The most notable is the Finance Act which raised almost all fees and charges for licences as well as seeking new avenues to raise revenue.
Defaulters
The residents are also enjoying provisions of the Nairobi City County Tax Waivers Administration Act, which will pave way for amnesty on rate defaulters.
The implementation of the law is set to raise more than Sh3 billion from payment of rates on property.
“We have been working at the committee level. We are on recess and not on strike as many have been made to believe,” said Justice and Legal Affairs Chairman Jaffer Kassam.
“The Provisional of Collection of Revenue Act gives a framework for collection of revenue by the Finance department.
“The third law has given identity to the city by enacting the County Flag and Other Symbols Act, which approved the flag, seals and emblems of the county. This law allows only the governor and the Speaker of the Assembly to fly the county flag,” Kassam said.
The fourth law, the City County Appropriation Act, breaks down the financial requirements of the county to meet the Sh25 billion budget.
Out of this, Sh17.6 billion will go into footing operation costs, while Sh7.5 billion will be spent on development projects.
Much awaits the Assembly come January.
Clerk Jacob Ngwele says top of the list will be the Ward Development Fund Bill moved by Umoja 1 County Rep Njoroge G. Maina.
If enacted, the Bill will create a CDF-like fund for the wards, which will take up five per cent of the total county government’s budget.
This means Sh1 billion could trickle down to the grassroots.