MCAs Cry Foul Over Assemblies Budget Cuts

Evurore Ward Representative Duncan Mbui said the County Assembly was no longer able to set aside funds to help offset school fees balances for needy students from economically disadvantaged families after a tussle with Members of the National Assembly over the kitty.

The MCA said the County Assemblies across the country had yielded to the pressure by Controller of Budget Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o whose office declared that County Governments had no mandate of issuing budgets as the role was squarely vested on parliamentarians.

On his part, Nginda MCA Maurice Macharia sought to clarify that neither Governor Cecily Mbarire nor the elected MCAs were responsible for the abolishment of county bursaries. He however expressed confidence that with proper systems in place, both MPs and MCAs could issue parallel bursaries.

While alluding to a plot to weaken devolution, Mbeti South MCA Murithi Kiura revealed that the County Assembly suffered a budget cut of KSh 83million, which he said would thwart efforts by Ward Reps to effectively execute their mandates of oversight, legislation and representation.

He gave a clarion call to other County Assemblies to join hands in solidarity to defend their roles, at the same time urging the Office of the Controller of Budget to rethink some of the decisions that threatened to stifle devolution.

The leaders said some factors may negatively impact the lives of the common mwananchi, but at the same time pointed out that they had no way of circumventing laws that were seemingly oppressive to their people. They therefore called upon the County Governors to intervene to unlock the stalemates. They challenged the Council of Governors to rise as the defender of devolution as opposed to remaining mum with the aim of enjoying unchecked powers stemming from the muzzling of County Assemblies.