Councils get Sh4b from ministry

By BEAUTTAH OMANGA

The Ministry of Local Government has released Sh4 billion for various development purposes to all 175 councils across the country.

In a newspaper advertisement, the ministry promised more funds by the end of next month to boost provision of quality services to residents.

PS Karega Mutahi said the funds were allocated based on an objective formula using population as the main criteria. Mutahi called on all Kenyans to be vigilant on the expenditure of the monies by the chief officers and the councillors.

"Citizens are encouraged to demand regular progress reports from their respective elected local council leaders on the use of the funds," stated the PS.

In the current financial year, the Government allocated Sh12.3 billion to the 175 authorities through the Local Authorities Transfer Fund (LATF). The funds are to enable local authorities improve service delivery to the public, financial management and accountability and also for debt resolution.

The release of the funds has delayed forcing some projects started by various councils to stall. In some councils, revenue collected is diverted to paying councillors’ allowances at the expense of service delivery.

Final amount

The PS explained that the next disbursement would be effected by January 31, while the final amount will be disbursed by April 30, next year.

"Updates will be published as soon as the monies are fully disbursed by respective dates," Karega said.

Of the 175 councils, 147 were allocated funds leaving out the rest. Efforts to get a comment from the PS to explain the situation were fruitless as he said he was in a meeting and would call later. He didn’t.

A notable authority that missed out was Kisii municipality where local Government Minister Musalia Mudavadi sent a team of auditors to investigate use of funds following an outcry from residents and council employees.

The probe report complied a month ago and handed over to top ministry officials is yet to be made public.

Sources at the ministry said those that were left out had either not submitted their budgets in time or had failed to account for previous year’s allocations.

Substantial allocation

Mombasa Municipal Council, with an allocation of Sh322,283,329, got the lion’s share followed by Nakuru County Council that got Sh112,764,386, and Nakuru Municipal Council Sh109,726,509.

Others that got substantial allocations include Makueni County Council with Sh86 million, Kwale County Council with Sh79 million, and Bungoma County Council with Sh77 million, the same amount as Nyambene County Council.

The least allocation of Sh2 million went to the Town Council of Chepareria and Funyula Sh3 million.

Despite the huge allocations, urban dwellers have always complained of heaps of garbage within estates and impassable roads. In some cases there are reports of duplication of work as councils and CDF teams claim credit for work on some key roads falling within the same regions.