Kisumu MCAs vow not to approve the budget until pertinent issues addressed.

Members of the County Assembly of Kisumu led by their Majority Leader Kenneth Onyango{M} addressing the press in Kisumu today where they vowed not to approve the budget estimate of 2019/2020-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo.

By Dickson Odhiambo.

July 2, 2019.

Kisumu MCAs vow not to approve the budget until pertinent issues addressed.

MEMBERS of the County Assembly of Kisumu have vowed not to approve this financial year 2019/2020 Budget Estimates until the Executive wing of the county Government address some pertinent issues.

Led by the Kisumu County Assembly Majority Leader Kenneth Onyango, the MCAs while addressing the press in Kisumu today said the executive wing of the county Government must address some weighty issues they have raised before they approve the 2019/2020 budget estimates.

“It has come to our attention that some citizenry and the Executive wing of the county Government of Kisumu do not understand why the budget making process has stalled and failed to meet the constitutional deadline of June 30,” they said.

The MCAs say they want a number of document provided by the Executive wing of the county Government of Kisumu under Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o, failure to which they will never approve this fiscal year budget estimate.

They want the document on the Kisumu County Government closing balances as at June 30 2019 as well as a list of pending bills as at June 30, 2019.

They also want the County Assembly to be provided with the list of all flagship projects earmarked for the year 2019/2020, adding they also want the list of all conditional grants and supporting documents to the same.

In response to the issue of list of conditional grants, the office of Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o through the Governor’s Press Unit Director Aloice Ager said the County Government of Kisumu is implementing the Kenya Urban Support Program through a ring-fenced grant of shs 790 million.

He said the three projects which have since been launched under the program include Rotary Youth Innovation Center at over shs 255million, Fire Station and Fire Hydrant at over 295 million and non-motorized transport system at over shs 240 million.

The MCAs sentiments comes barely a day after Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr. Mathews Owili denied that the County Assembly of Kisumu had rejected the 2019/2020 Budget estimates.

Owilli says the County Assembly has not rejected the County Budget proposal as being speculated in a section of the media including social media.

Addressing the press at his office in Kisumu, the Deputy Governor said the County Assembly had only deferred discussion of the budget committee report, in order to receive clarifications on certain aspects in the budget.

"The executive is yet to receive any official communication from the Assembly but commits to look at raised issues and respond expeditiously to enable speedy conclusion of the budget process" the Deputy Governor said.

He further assured Kisumu residents of the county finance department and the budget team availability in giving clarity to the contents of the budget document. 
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