Our Sh7m trip to Mombasa lawful, Nyeri MCAs say
The Nyeri County Assembly during a past session. MCAs have defended their recent trip to Mombasa. PHOTO | FILE |
What you need to know:
- Majority Leader James Kanyugo said that they had not contravened the law by going on the trip.
- Nyeri County officials were in Mombasa to review the implementation of their budget and discuss development projects.
Nyeri ward representatives have defended their seven-day trip to Mombasa.
The MCAs insisted that the trip, that cost Sh7 million, was lawful.
Last week, Governor Mutahi Kahiga, nine county executives and 44 MCAs spent a week in Mombasa. The county officials were accused of wasting public funds.
But Majority Leader James Kanyugo on Wednesday insisted that they had not contravened the law by going on the trip.
He accused the media of misleading the public yet the funds spent during the trip had been factored in the budget.
PROPAGANDA
The Mahiga MCA said that the taxpayers were getting value for their money.
Chinga MCA Kiruga Thuku said that no law barred them from travelling locally and abroad. He accused politicians who are interested in their seats of fanning lies and propaganda.
“Unless our laws are changed to bar governments from holding meetings outside their counties, these retreats shall continue taking place,”
On Saturday, Nyeri Senator Ephraim Maina complained that counties were spending millions of shillings on trips at the expense of essential services in sectors including health and education.
REVIEW BUDGET
“Instead of devolution of bringing services closer to Wanjiku by improving agriculture and health, the money counties receive is squandered,” he alleged.
Speaker John Kaguchia said they were in Mombasa to review the implementation of their budget and discuss development projects.
He said that said during the retreat, the ministers outlined plans for the 2019-20 financial year.
“This is an interactive forum for the executive and the assembly to review their performance and deliberate on the way forward,” Mr Kaguchia said.
CAPACITY BUILDING
The county invited National Treasury officials to make a presentation on procurement and payments through the Integrated Financial Management System.
During the meeting, the executives submitted reports on the projects implemented in the 2017-2018 financial year.
The speaker asked ward representatives to sensitise their electorate on the importance of such retreats.
Last year, MCAs opposed the new guidelines on foreign travels. County Assemblies Forum Secretary-General Eric Wamumbi said such trips promote capacity building.
“The money MCAs spend on trips are budgeted for and approved by the assembly,” he said.
