Uasin Gishu County threatens action on errant assembly officials

By Michael Wesonga and Kevin Tunoi

Uasin Gishu, Kenya: The Uasin Gishu county assembly has threatened errant County Executive Committee (CEC) members with censure for persistent violation of county procedures.

Leader of Majority Josephat Lowoi was reacting after the chairman of the County Public Service Board, Joseph Tanui, was turned away for responding late to summons to appear before the Liaison Committee last Friday.

County Finance Secretary Shadrack Sambai was also tasked on Friday to explain why he was yet to apportion Sh488 million from a consolidated development fund to the various departments.

It was further found that the CEC had presented its annual work plan to the Controller of Budget without the assembly’s approval.

Lowoi said the executive had violated Article 185 of the Counties Act by engaging the services of the National Youth Service (NYS) whereas any staff contracts, volunteers and interns must be handled by the County Public Service Board.

Assembly Finance Committee members pointed out that Section 74 of the County Government Act stipulated that no engagements could be made without the approval of the assembly.

The Liaison Committee added it would call in the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the issues.

Assembly Speaker Isaac Terer, who chairs the committee, expressed displeasure after the grilling of the Mr Sambai for failing to motivate workers inherited from the defunct Eldoret Municipal Council.

House Minority Leader Ramadhan Ali termed the NYS engagement fraudulent.

He said the executive was contravening the County Integrated Development Plan by introducing expenditure that was not factored into the plan.

“What raises the red flag is that there seems to be a parallel budget where the executives get the money to use on some of the illegal expenditure,” he said.