County proposes to build Sh100 million house for governor

Nyeri county has proposed to build a Sh100 million house for the next governor.

According to the annual development plan detailing the projects the county will implement in the 2017-2018 financial year, the money will be used to purchase land, fund architectural design and construction.

Taxpayers will foot the bill.

Members of County Assembly (MCA) did not oppose this allocation when adopting a report on the plan on Tuesday evening.

Each ward representative will get an office if the county proceeds with a proposal to construct a Sh115 million building.

The county has proposed to spend Sh110 million to automate and create a networking framework for all sub-county offices.

A county Treasury block will be constructed at a cost of Sh30 million.

The ward representatives differed on the projects listed in the document, saying some wards had been sidelined and others favoured.

While moving a motion for the report’s adoption, Majority Leader Duncan Gituanja said the document was subject to amendment in the next Assembly after this year’s General Election.

"This document is not final because I’m sure the MCAs who will join this house after August might change it," he said.

Kirimukuyo MCA James Kibira opposed the development plan, saying it did not represent the wishes of the people.

'THE SAME'

Kimathi MCA Stephen Mwaniki said that projects included in the plan had been allocated money in previous budgets.

"What is the purpose of allocating the same projects money every year yet we have had an executive mandated with the implementation of those projects," he said.

He accused the Executive of derailing development and vowed to cautiously vet the former county executive committee members if their names were introduced in the Assembly.  

The members ceased to hold office on February 24 after the death of Governor Nderitu Gachagua.

Gikondi MCA James Kahiga faulted the document.

The ward representatives opposed the construction on incinerators at Othaya and Mukurwe-ini sub-county hospitals, arguing that a mega incinerator at Nyeri Level Hospital was sufficient.

The budget committee proposed the purchase of new and modern fire engines “since the existing ones cannot serve the whole county”.

“There is need that each sub-county has a resident fire engine and a fully equipped fire section,” the Majoriy Leader Gituanja said.

The Budget committee opposed the construction of two gates at the county hospital at a cost of Sh30 million saying it was not a priority.