Members of County Assembly demand 15 per cent of revenue

Kisumu Members of County Assembly (MCAs) now want 15 per cent of the county's annual revenue devolved to wards as development funds.

If the Ward Development Fund Bill, currently before the assembly is assented to by Governor Jack Ranguma, Sh105 million will go to the wards.

This means that each of the 35 wards will get Sh30 million of the county's budgeted Sh7 billion in 2015-2016 financial year.

But the MCAs are still under investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Auditor General and Controller of Budget over graft claims involving a Sh93 million monthly Ward Maintenance Fund.

On Thursday, the MCAs passed the bill, saying it would bolster development at the ward level. Some MCAs have even threatened not to back Ranguma if he does not assent to the bill.

"The bill is tied to the budget proposals sent by the governor to the Controller of Budget for fund allocation from the national government. I am sure Governor Ranguma will sign it into law," said Masogo/Nyang'oma MCA Samwel Ong'ow.