Governor blames MPs for protest at finance law
What you need to know:
- Dr Malombe said his administration is responsive and tolerant to criticism by residents but will not be drawn into a shouting match with disgruntled MPs over issues that do not concern them.
- The governor said MPs should stick to their role of overseeing the national government in the National Assembly and leave members of the county assembly to sort out the issues raised by traders.
- A World Bank report released last month indicated that the county used 14 per cent of its funds on development projects, with the rest going to recurrent expenditure.
Governor Julius Malombe has blamed the disaffection against his government on some MPs.
Traders protested when the county government started implementing the Finance Act, through which rates and taxes had been increased.
The demonstration was staged even after the Bill had been subjected to public scrutiny.
Dr Malombe said his administration is responsive and tolerant to criticism by residents but will not be drawn into a shouting match with disgruntled MPs over issues that do not concern them.
The governor said MPs should stick to their role of overseeing the national government in the National Assembly and leave members of the county assembly to sort out the issues raised by traders.
“The issue at hand concerns the Finance Bill passed by our county assembly. Why would an MP get involved in the traders’ demo unless he is driven by other motives?” said Dr Malombe in an apparent reference to the Mwingi Central MP, who joined the protesters on Monday.
DEFENDED BILL
He defended the Bill, saying it was advertised in local dailies and vernacular radio stations, with people from the 40 wards in the county giving views before debate in the assembly.
“I assented to the Bill in July last year, even though traders have complained four months to the end of the financial year. I have tasked the county executive for finance to liaise with the relevant assembly committee to address the matter,” he said.
A World Bank report released last month indicated that the county used 14 per cent of its funds on development projects, with the rest going to recurrent expenditure.
Governors have questioned the findings considering that the pay for staff who run newly created institutions in counties is not seen as “development” but recurrent expenditure.
Earlier, a report by the National Treasury showed that Sh2 billion in the 2013/2014 financial year was not spent, which means the county’s fiscal strategy paper was not implemented fully and the funds had to be budgeted afresh.
According to Kiema Mwandia, a public policy analyst, demand for public services overwhelms the available meagre resources, and there should be no excuse for failing to exhaust funds in a year.
