MCAs want State to take over Garissa County functions

Some Garissa County MCAs have asked the national government to take over core county functions due to alleged mismanagement by the current administration.

Led by former assembly Majority Leader Mahat Osman, the MCAs on Monday complained that for the past three financial years, the county administration has failed to implement important projects budgeted for.

The MCAs include Osman, Hassan Halane (Fafi), Hassan Omar (Nanigi) Abdullahi Omar (Bura) and Yussuf Omar (Dekaharja).

Some of the projects, Mr Osman pointed out in an interview in Garissa town, are a cancer centre, a building to house county headquarters and the recruitment of Early Childhood Development and Education teachers.

Osman said at least Sh643 million had been set aside for these initiatives.

“On top of these projects, the county has no water provision plans, inadequate health centres and a myriad of other challenges," said Osman.

Last week, the disgruntled MCAs, most who are from Fafi constituency, attempted to shoot down a supplementary budget.

“Most of the projects that are currently going on have been funded by the World Bank. That is why we are wondering where county allocations are going," said Mr Yussuf.

Mr Halane said the county executive has failed. “We can only tell our people that devolution has failed," Halane said.

County Secretary Abdi Sheikh had not responded to the allegations raised by the MCAs by the time of going to press.