Assembly adjourns as money problem bites
What you need to know:
- The county’s operations have been in limbo for a while with the executive and the assembly engaged in a tug-of-war over spending.
- “The assembly has been enacting laws and our relationship with the executive had improved,” he said.
Sittings at the county assembly have been adjourned for lack of money.
Minority Leader John Mwenze Thursday said the Sh356 million approved by the Commission on Revenue Allocation was not enough.
He said the assembly could not conduct business due to a deficit of Sh200 million. As a result, Members of the County Assembly could not be paid sitting allowances.
According to Mr Mwenze, the county government did not meet its local revenue collection target of Sh500 million but instead collected only Sh100 million.
The Nguumo Ward Rep said with no hope in sight to fill the financial gap, the MCAs decided on Wednesday to take a three-week break.
Mr Mwenze told the Nation by phone that the leaders took the leave hoping that the executive and the assembly would find the money.
Debates on three Bills have now been shelved.
TUG OF WAR
The county’s operations have been in limbo for a while with the executive and the assembly engaged in a tug-of-war over spending.
A petition to dissolve the county government has been taken to President Uhuru Kenyatta and a commission to look into the claims that the government was dysfunctional formed.
Mr Mwenze said the suspension of the assembly happened when “the rift between executive and the assembly is narrowing”.
“The assembly has been enacting laws and our relationship with the executive had improved,” he said.
Mr Mwenze said the Budget Committee was engaging the executive with a view of acquiring money to run the assembly business.
In an advert on Wednesday, the commission looking into the possible dissolution of the county government, announced that it would hold its first public hearing on April 23 at KICC, Nairobi and subsequent ones in Makueni.
