Hungry Nyamira locals halt public participation over lunch

John Kebaso (Left) and Charles Ondieki address residents while mobilizing them to boycott a public participation forum in which the 2016/2017 county budget was being discussed. The residents demanded sitting allowance and fare reimbursement as a condition for them to allow the exercise to continue. PHOTO: STANLEY ONGWAE/STANDARD

A public-participation meeting on the proposed 2016-2017 budget ended in disarray after the participants learned there was no lunch allowance.

Trouble started after the residents got wind that the county officials who were leading discussions on the county's next financial budget had not budgeted for their lunch.