Uasin Gishu MCAs allocate millions in budget for their trips

Uasin Gishu MCAs have reallocated themselves millions of shillings for domestic and foreign travel.

Part of this money has been diverted from other crucial departments, even after the Controller of Budget raised concerns about the loss of billions of shillings by counties in unjustified trips.

The assembly has transferred money from key departments in its supplementary budget for the 2016/2017 financial year to meet the travel expenses of the MCAs, sparking protests from the electorate.

The assembly proposes to move Sh2.05 million from the ICT department and Sh1.67 million from the beautification account to meet the MCAs’ domestic travel expenses.

In the budget estimates awaiting approval by the assembly, about Sh5 billion has been allocated for recurrent expenditure, accounting for 65.3 per cent of the total budget, with Sh2.67 billion set for development.

BENCHMARKING TRIPS

Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo has in the past asked counties to go for so-called benchmarking trips that would benefit wananchi instead of themselves.

“Money set aside for foreign trips should be reasonable and meet the set ceilings. The trips should be reasonable and for a good purpose. The people should reap the benefits of such trips,” Ms Odhiambo said in the past.

The proposed allocation of Sh3.72 million for domestic and foreign travel has sparked criticism from Uasin Gishu residents, who want the money to be directed to meaningful development projects.

“It is a waste of public funds for the county government to spend such colossal sums of money on meaningless trips when some of the key projects have stalled due to lack of funding,” said Joel Kemboi, from Moiben.