Leaders fault Kindiki changes to funds law

Some leaders from western Kenya have called for consultations with the Senate over a Bill seeking to compel them to set aside 60 per cent of funds allocated to them for development.

The leaders opposed the proposed amendments to the Public Finance Management Bill, 2014, by Senate Leader of Majority Kithure Kindiki.
It is at the third reading stage.

The current Public Finance Management Act mandated counties to set aside 30 per cent of funds for development, with salaries taking the lion’s share of the money.

“This Bill seeks to amend sections 15 and 107 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012, to ensure a minimum of 60 per cent of the budget of a county government is allocated to development expenditure,” says the Bill, co-sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Beatrice Elachi, and senators Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) and Stephen Sang (Nandi).

BLOATED WORKFORCE

Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga, and county majority leaders Samuel Ong’ow (Kisumu), Andrew Ahuga (Vihiga) and Robert Makhanu (Kakamega) said the draft law should first have addressed the bloated workforce in devolved units before development.

Mr Rasanga said they will support the move only if solutions to the huge salaries paid to staff inherited by counties from defunct municipal councils are given.

“The plan is fine as long as we are given solutions to the huge wage bill. That is why we are pushing for Pesa Mashinani. We want counties to be allocated more funds,” said Mr Rasanga.

Mr Ong’ow said the Senate should have consulted county assemblies in drafting the Bill.

Mr Ahuga said counties were still grappling with huge salaries that had drained their accounts. “Everybody wants development but the problem is that recurrent expenditure is still high and should be addressed,” he said.