Blow to governor Kiraitu Murungi as MCAs slash budget

Meru Deputy Governor Titus Ntuchiu and Governor Kiraitu Murungi at a past event. Meru MCAs have made major amendments to the county's budget for 2018/2019 financial year. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • While introducing the amendments to the strategy paper, Municipality MCA Elias Murega said the scrapping of the free milk programme was meant to channel money to vital infrastructure.
  • The MCAs deducted Sh91 million from the office of the governor, Sh176 million from the Finance department and Sh10 million from Public Service and Environment departments.

Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi’s flagship projects were dealt a blow on Thursday after MCAs passed major amendments to the county’s fiscal strategy paper for 2018/2019 pointing to a fallout with the executive.

The strategy paper showed the county would need Sh10.1 billion in the 2018/2019 financial year to fund projects in all departments.

FREE MILK

The MCAs deducted Sh91 million from the office of the governor, Sh176 million from the Finance department and Sh10 million from Public Service and Environment departments effectively doing away with the flagship free milk programme.

They also denied funding to the county investment and development corporation and the county microfinance corporation.

The free milk programme, which is currently being piloted at a cost of Sh50 million, was estimated to cost Sh101.4 million in the next financial year.

Also affected was the Meru youth service programme after a deduction of Sh50 million as the ward reps prioritised construction of ECDE classrooms, purchase of graders, drilling rigs and dozers, sports development and provision of bursaries to needy students.

The afternoon session which ended at 7.30pm started off with drama as most of the MCAs crossed to the minority side leaving the majority side with about 10 ward reps. 

There was singing and chanting as the MCAs waited for the session to start.

DEVOLUTION MEETING

Attempts by Athwana MCA and Majority Leader Victor Karithi to introduce a motion deferring the amendments was shot down by the more than 40 MCAs who were keen on stamping their authority.

A motion by Mr Karithi seeking to suspend sittings next week for members to attend the devolution conference was also shot down.

They argued that there were more pressing issues to be handled by the assembly and that the county had nothing to show at the conference.

Finance and budget committee chairman Julius Mbijiwe who presented the Fiscal Strategy Paper report said the amendments were meant to ensure residents get value for money.

“These amendments should send a signal to the executive. It points to the existing relationship between the executive and the assembly. We cannot allocate funds to free milk when several ECDE classrooms have stalled while children learn in dilapidated structures. There is a problem in how the executive is working,” Mr Mbijiwe said.

While introducing the amendments to the strategy paper, Municipality MCA Elias Murega said the scrapping of the free milk programme was meant to channel money to vital infrastructure.

“ECDE learners should not be taking milk under a tree. We need to provide enough teachers and classrooms before giving them milk. The bursaries are vital to retain needy and bright students in school,” Mr Murega said.

WATER

He said the changes were also meant to ensure each MCA gets three staff members including a driver and a personal assistant.

Kiegoi Antubochiu MCA Kimathi Ithibua said there was need for the county to repair the existing water drilling rig and acquire more to cut down on the cost of sinking boreholes.

“The cost of drilling and equipping a borehole is about Sh2 million when we use a county rig. This cost shoots to more than Sh5 million when we engage contractors. This is why we need more rigs in the county,” Mr Ithibua said.

But the majority leader opposed the amendments to give time to the members to re-look into the impact of the changes.

Igoji West MCA Mutembei Mbiuki opposed the amendments saying it was unfair to stop the free milk programme yet it was approved by the assembly.