Nakuru MCAs approve Sh2.7bn development expenditure

The Nakuru County Assembly has gifted Governor Lee Kinyanjui’s administration with a perfect Christmas gift by authorising the expenditure of Sh2.7 billion from the county’s consolidated fund.

This follows the passing of the Supplementary Appropriation Bill for development expenditure for the year ending June 30, 2020.

The money will now unlock the stalled development projects at the ward level and the Bill will now be forwarded to Governor Kinyanjui for assent.

CALL FOR ACTION

“The urgency with which we were pushed to have this Bill passed should be translated into action in terms of the project implementation. The executive must implement this budget. We don’t want to hear stories come January. We have done our part as an assembly and the ball now is in Governor Lee Kinyanjui’s court,” said Speaker Joel Maina Kairu.

Many residents will be keenly watching to see how the county will spend the additional funding as its developing spending in the first nine months of 2018/19 fiscal year was not impressive.

The county was in the list of shame as it spent less than 10 per cent or Sh751.5 million of its planned annual development budget of Sh8 billion.

This hurt the momentum of economic activity in the cosmopolitan county and halted job creation for thousands of unemployed graduate youth population.

SPECIAL SITTING

On Monday, the 78-member House, which is on recess until February 12, was recalled for a special sitting to pass the Bill which might as well define Governor Kinyanjui’s next development agenda in 2020.

At least 95 per cent, or Sh2.6billion, has been specifically allocated for development expenditure in all the 55 wards while five per cent, or Sh147 million, will be set aside to pay salaries and other recurrent expenditures.

The biggest beneficiaries of the additional budget are Nakuru and Naivasha municipality boards which will spend Sh1.4 billion and Sh688 million respectively.

Nakuru town will be elevated to city status before the end of 2020 and the lion’s share of the additional funds will be used to employ board workers.

AGRICULTURE

The critical Agriculture docket has been allocated Sh212 million for development expenditure while the department of Finance and Economic Planning’s annual development budget has been enhanced by Sh65 million.

The department of Infrastructure, which oversees the Boresha Barabara programme, the pet project of Governor Kinyanjui, has been added Sh63 million while the Assembly has been allocated Sh38 million.

The office of the Governor, his deputy and disaster management have been allocated Sh7 million for development expenditure while the Education department will get Sh6.3 million.

Other departments which will benefit from the additional development expenditure include Health (Sh13 million), Water, Environment, Energy and Natural Resources (Sh24 million) and Trade (Sh28 million).

ROADS

Naivasha East MCA Stanley Karanja and Majority Leader Moses Ndung’u Kamau said that roads in Nakuru are in pathetic state.

“The money is now available and projects should be up and running. We are on recess and we need to supervise those projects and make sure they are completed,” said Mr Karanja.

Minority Leader Peter Palanga said the executive must up its development game and should not return the money to the National Treasury.

“The executive should implement all the pending projects and recruit key staff like pre-primary teachers and clear all the pending bills without further delay,” said Mr Palanga.

Lake View Ward MCA Karanja Mburu said Nakuru and Naivasha municipality boards should now start performing their duties.

“We expect the county public service board to hire a manager for the two municipalities in the shortest possible time,” said Mr Mburu.