Meru County reduces publication days for Bill on ward funds
Meru Speaker Kaberia Arimba and Governor Peter Munya during a past sssembly sitting. PHOTO | DAVID MUCHUA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The Meru County Assembly on Thursday passed a motion whose enactment will see the 45 Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) each controlling Sh35 million for development.
The county assembly also reduced the publication period of the Ward Development Fund Bill from 14 to four days.
The motion moved by Mwanganthia Ward Representative Julius Mbijiwe is intended to allow the enactment of the Bill into law before appropriation of funds allocated in the 2015/16 budget.
The assembly on Tuesday approved the allocation of Sh1.5 billion for the Ward Development Fund.
The Bill is set to go through public participation next week after the first reading.
Mr Mbijiwe said the Ward Fund is 22.5 per cent of all the county resources.
"We have reduced the publication period to ensure the Sh1.5 billion we allocated in the budget are appropriated. Every ward will get Sh35 million and an equalisation amount. We want to fast track the bill because we want to see development devolved, " Mr Mbijiwe said.
The Bill proposes the identification of projects from village level and will be managed by ward committees.
The MCAs said the establishment of the ward fund would enable the realisation of the devolution agenda.
