Kisumu MCAs demand answers on huge wage bill

By RUSHDIE OUDIA

KISUMU COUNTY: The Kisumu County executive has been put on the spot over the devolved unit’s huge wage bill.

Ward representatives said the executive team was not doing enough to bring down the county’s unsustainable recurrent expenditure.

In a report released by the Controller of Budget recently, Kisumu 79.3 per cent of the money allocated to the county was spent on personnel emoluments.

Kisumu was ranked third among counties with the highest recurrent expenditure behind West Pokot at 81.4 per cent and Kisii at 83.7 per cent.

East Seme Ward Representative Aggrey Ogosi said the executive had failed to explain the huge wage bill, and challenged the team to publish results of a staff audit carried out last year.

“The executive should tell us if there are ghost workers on the payroll who are making the expenditure go up,” said Ogosi.

Mr Ogosi added that county administration should start devoting more money to development as opposed to salaries.

The county’s recurrent expenditure is expected to rise further as there are plans to hire additional staff such as Chief Officers and Sub-County Administrators.

FREE UP FUNDS

The audit report had proposed that Kisumu should carry out skills audit, rationalise staff and take appropriate steps to free up more resources for development projects.

Ogosi also raised concern that funds were being returned to the National Treasury after the county administration failed to utilise it.

Nyalenda (B) Ward Representative James Were demanded that the county government states the projects it has implemented since taking office.

“The Executive should give account on the launching dates of any project they are engaged in,” said Were, who is the Vice Chair of the County Budget and Appropriation Committee.

Kisumu County Assembly approved a budget of Sh8.6 billion for the financial year 2013/2014. The budget comprises Sh5.2 billion (60 per cent) for recurrent expenditure and Sh3.4 billion (40 per cent) for development.