This archive report was first published on 3 July 2019.
On July 3, 2019, a stalemate in Nairobi County continued as Members of County Assembly (MCAs) disrupted a plenary session for the second day in a row, protesting the delayed disbursement of bursary funds.
MCAs blamed the county Executive, accusing Governor Mike Sonko's administration of sabotaging the interests of their constituents.
The MCAs vowed to resume their sittings only after bursary funds allocated under the 2018/19 financial year were released.
The County Treasury and Controller of Budget engaged in a blame game over the delayed release of the funds, with the County Executive blaming the Controller of Budget and the Controller accusing the Treasury of failing to provide crucial documents.
Stephen Okelo, an officer from the Controller of Budget, told the Assembly's Budget and Appropriations committee that they could not okay the funds since the County Treasury had not submitted financial returns for bursaries issued under the previous financial year.
Okelo stated, 'The Public Finance Management Act requires funds administrator to provide financial returns before subsequent request is approved, therefore our hands are tied.'
According to the Controller of Budget, a total of Sh90 million was not accounted for from the Sh357 million bursary funds issued in the financial year 2017/18.
Nairobi Finance County Executive Council Member Charles Kerich placed the blame on the Education department, stating that the management of bursary is entirely under the Education docket.
Kerich further tabled a report from the Cooperative Bank, which he said accounts for all the monies in question.
The funds in question for the financial year 2018/19 amount to Sh400 million.
