Ensure prudent management of public funds at the grass root level, CSOs tells the public.

 Transform Empowerment for Action Initiative {Team} Coordinator George Collins Owuor address the media in Kisumu today where he urged the public to be very vigilant on the usage of public funds in counties-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo.

 By Dickson Odhiambo.

April 16, 2019.

Ensure prudent management of public funds at the grass root level, CSOs tells the public.

The Public has been urged to ensure that there is prudent management of public funds at the grass root level especially on the issue of devolution.

The Civil Societies Organizations in Kisumu said the public should not wait until the funds are misappropriated by those in authority and only raises questions later.

Address the participants during a breakfast meeting on the issue of towards accountability and realization for a just and accountable Kenya, the CSOs led by Transform Empowerment for Action Initiative {Team} Coordinator George Collins Owuor, said all the stakeholders should also ensure that the devolved funds are utilized well so as to benefit the public on the intended development purposes.

He said no one should wait to be organized so as to start ensuring that public money is properly appropriated but should have an urge to ensure that the right things are done at their level.

“Take the initiative from the level where you are and ensure that only the right thing is done as a tax payer in this country,” Owuor said.

He said there should be no longer lamentations on the issue of misuse of public funds but actions should be seen to be done. 

Owuor said even the youth has a greater role to play in ensuring that social accountability is promoted.

He said there is need to ensure that there are conversations on the issue of social accountability in all spheres of life.

“The energy that the youth have should be brought back so as to help in the promotion of social accountability as this is one of the areas where such energy can be channeled to and the youth has a role in this,” Owuor said.

The CSOs at the same time now want the nominees of the Kisumu County Public Service Board who were recently approved by the County Assembly of Kisumu to get down to work without fear or favor once sworn in by the Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o.

They said the Board that will be led by Charles Babu Karan as its Chair alongside other five Members and its Chief Executive Officer to ensure it only employs the public on merit and not on favoritism and nepotism.

“We want to see the new Kisumu County Public Service Board to work well and only get the right people employed and help in steering development projects in Kisumu County. We don’t want a situation whereby a disco dancer is employed as a planner,” they said.

On the issue of the Village Administration, the CSOs suggest that only those who are duly qualified should get the jobs as village administrators.

“Now the issue of Village administration is almost here with us, we are saying only those who are qualified to get the jobs,” they further said.

They claimed that there has been attempt that the former MCAs be the Village administrators but this is not a good move, adding that they believe that there are better Kenyans who too can serve in such positions.

The CSOs further said there is need to enhance the spirit of public participation at the grass root level so that the public should be part and parcel of the development proposals hence they will be also raise queries when carrying out social accountability.

Anglican Church of Kenya Bishop in Charge of Maseno South Diocese Reverend Charles Ong’injo said Kenyans should be very much focused and help in promoting social accountability.

Bishop Ong’injo said in most county Governments, there has been a standoff between the Executive wing of the county Government and the legislative wing which is the Assemblies.

The Bishop said there has been an issue of Members of the County Assemblies being intimidated to do their work while leaning towards some powerful sources, adding the MCAs should do their work without being intimidated from any quarter.

Ong’injo said the minority groups within various counties Kisumu included should not be forgotten and their voices should be heard on issues like public appointment and any other issues of public interest.

The Bishop proposed that the Church, Civil Society Organizations and the County Governments should have counties dialogue to the way to move forward in terms of development among other issues affecting counties.

He added that such counties dialogue forum should not be spearheaded by the County Governments since they can compromise such by bringing in their agenda.

ENDS: