County holds retreat despite protest on costs

Kisumu, Kenya: The controversial retreat by the county government staff that was opposed by a section of the leaders took place after all.

The retreat at the Kenya School of Government was opposed by Governor Jack Ranguma’s Deputy Ruth Odinga and a section of other county officials, who wanted it held in Kisumu or neighbouring counties to cut costs.

The stand-off led to the sacking of executive officers perceived to be allied to Ms Odinga as Mr Ranguma maintained that venue of the retreat would not be changed.

The Standard learnt that those who attended the retreat left Kisumu International Airport on Monday and the meeting cost Sh5 million.

Sources close to the meeting indicated that Ranguma pocketed Sh24,000 per day during the period of the retreat, while the 10 county executives who accompanied him were paid Sh18,000 per day.

On the other hand, the 50 MCAs who also attended the meeting received Sh14,000 per day, while the chief officers pocketed Sh16,000.

In addition, the MCAs and other officers received Sh10,000 each for taxi from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to the venue of the meeting.

According to Salaries and Remuneration Commission, the highest ranking public servants should be paid Sh22,000 for a day’s stay in Naivasha, Mombasa, Nairobi Kisumu, Kilifi, Lamu and Kwale.

However, nominated MCA Faridah Salim said the retreat was productive as assembly members and the executive consulted and agreed on many crucial issues.

Budget deficits

“We have been working in isolation but the meeting brought us together and we were able to understand that we have been making over-ambitious budgets,” Ms Salim said.

She revealed that due to the exaggerated budgets, the county has been dealing with deficits leading to non-implementation of some of the projects. Salim also said the leaders also agreed to work together to fight corruption in the county, which was identified as the main reason why the county is collecting less revenue.

But Ms Odinga maintained the meeting was unnecessary and a waste of public money. She said it was imprudent for the leaders to go to Nairobi and blow away millions of shillings when residents don’t even have access to basic services.

“Last week, Kisumu District Hospital had no water while Jaramogi Oginga Referral Hospital had no drugs. It is senseless to take 100 people to Nairobi by air and spend over Sh5 million when people are dying,” she said.