Governor Isaac Ruto, MCAs embrace unity, resolve stalemate over budget

A stalemate pitting Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and Members of the County Assembly over budget has been resolved through a consensus to stick to the budget ceilings set by Commission on Revenue Allocations.

The MCAs ceded ground after a four-hour Kamukunji at the assembly chambers prompted by a return of the county budget by the Controller of Budget on grounds that the executive and assembly budget had not adhered to the ceilings set by CRA.

Addressing the press after the Kamukunji, Bomet County Assembly Leader of Majority Josphat Kirui said they ceded ground on their demands for Sh699 million budgetary allocations so that the county would be able to move forward as one.

Kirui, who is also Ndaraweta ward representative, however, said they are going to pursue issues not captured on the ceilings with CRA.

“As an assembly, we have reached a consensus on the budget after a long deliberation but we will still pursue CRA to clarify some of issues,” said Kirui.
Governor Ruto, who issued the statement jointly with the MCAs, said the stalemate was out of a misunderstanding on the ceilings developed by the CRA.

Ruto hailed the consensus saying it was timely as it will enable the county to move as one.

“The issue was only a misunderstanding on the CRA ceilings but we have ironed that out through a consensus and we are now ready to move together as one with the assembly,” said the governor.

Ruto, at the same time, petitioned the National Assembly and Senate to iron out their differences on the budget so that the Treasury can release funds to counies.

The chairman of the Council of Governors warned that if the Senate will not reach a consensus on the funding of Level 5 and Level 4 hospitals, running of county governments would be in crisis as there will be no money to pay salaries for staff due in a week’s time.

“We are supposed to pay our staff next week but it seems there will be delays because of the stalemate between Senate and National Assembly on budget. We are asking them to fast tract the process,” he said.