Bungoma County Executive under fire over withheld cash for projects

Bungoma County Assembly in session on 26/4/2016. An ad hoc committee was formed to investigate why the executive had failed to implement 2015/2016 projects even after they were approved by the assembly. (PHOTO: TITUS OTEBA/STANDARD)

Members of County Assembly have said they will form a committee to probe why the executive is not implementing projects approved by the House.

Khalaba Ward MCA Majimbo Okumu moved a motion yesterday to discuss why the executive had not implemented some projects for the 2015/2016 financial year, even after their approval.

“Despite approving Sh3.4 billion for development in the 2015/2016 financial year, the executive has disregarded the law by not releasing Sh28.8 million Ward Empowerment Fund, Sh776 million for roads and Sh4.6 million per ward for education bursaries,” he said.

Majimbo said they will paralyse assembly sittings until they get a clear answer from the executive on how the approved money was used. The MCA said they were left with only one and a half months to the next budget yet the previous projects were yet to be undertaken. He also tabled a secret circular written by Governor Kenneth Lusaka on July 22, 2015 and addressed to all executives titled ‘Pending bills for financial year 2014/2015’.

The circular states: “As you are aware, you submitted pending bills for various works and services for the financial year 2014/2015 to the Treasury. The analysis of the same has revealed the county has incurred pending bills worth Sh2.1 billion on development vote and Sh386 million on the recurrent vote, against Sh1.3 billion as available funds to be carried forward to financial year 2015/2016.”

In the circular, the governor orders the executive members to immediately suspend all the new recurrent activities until the pending recurrent bills are paid off.

Majimbo moved the motion to seek clarification from the executive because the circular was not copied to the assembly, yet they are the one approving the bills.
“This is a House under siege, we approve the budget but the executive is not implementing projects,” he said.

Assembly Speaker John Makali called for speedy investigation into the saga “so that the ward leaders are able to work on projects approved by the assembly.”
“The executive should work hand in hand with the assembly. Let the executive implement what has been approved by this honourable House,” said Makali.