CRA, CoB approved county development vote rejected by Governor Ruto

BOMET: The Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) and the Controller of Budget have given the assembly a nod on their planned expenditure.

This is despite the hardline stance taken by Governor Isaac Ruto, who rejected the 2015-2016 Appropriation Bill passed by the assembly three weeks ago because of the development vote.

Following the governor's move, Speaker Geoffrey Kipngetich wrote to CRA Chairman Micah Cheserem on July 7, seeking clarification on the development vote.

"The county assembly approved a budget with a development vote to construct the county assembly's chamber, committee rooms, residential buildings and perimeter wall.

I am seeking your clarification on whether the executive is justified in holding that the assembly should never undertake any development at all," his letter read in part.

REASONABLE COST

And in a letter dated July 29, Mr Cheserem said the county assembly is allowed to implement development projects, that are specific to them such as construction of the county assembly.

Cheserem also noted that he had separately met with the governor and resolved that the proposed cost of constructing the assembly is reasonable and should go ahead.

"Following a meeting with you and separately with governor Ruto, we all agreed that your proposed assembly development budget of Sh113m was not unreasonable when compared with development budgets of other county assemblies," the letter read

Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo, whose opinion the assembly had also sought, said the assembly was within its mandate to factor in construction of the assembly.