Vihiga residents oppose Sh4.7b county budget

Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga

Local residents have petitioned Vihiga County Assembly not to discuss the Sh4.7 billion budget proposals for 2016-17 financial year.

They claimed that the budget estimates had not fully satisfied provisions of the Constitution and Public Finance Management Act 2012.

Speaking on behalf of the petitioners, John Ishuga said the Executive avoided conducting public participation, only to present to the assembly a skewed budget.

"Many of our concerns that could have been addressed by the Executive while drafting the budget have not been addressed," Mr Ishuga said.

He said if the assembly goes ahead to discuss the budget, they will move to court to challenge the move.

The residents said the budget does not take into account the county's supposed debt of over Sh2 billion.

In the county's Sh4.7 billion budget, health department will take Sh1.3 billion.

The county will use Sh3.2 billion for recurrent expenditure.