This archive report was first published on 10 July 2019.
July 10, 2019
ODM leader Raila Odinga has spoken out against lawmakers and ward representatives who leave their counties to perform duties elsewhere, earning allowances in the process.
According to Odinga, this practice contributes to the denial of benefits that devolution was intended to provide to citizens.
Speaking at his office, Odinga warned that if the budget impasse at the Taita Taveta County Assembly is not resolved, an election may be the only viable solution.
“The MCAs and the governor should first seek dialogue to address this issue affecting the county. If the leaders cannot sit down and dialogue, then an election would be the only viable solution to the stalemate,” Odinga said.
At the heart of the issue is a dispute over Sh830 million allocated by the county assembly through the Ward Development Fund. The county assembly has also passed a Sh5.3 billion budget, with each MCA allocating themselves Sh41.5 million for projects in their wards.
Odinga pointed out that the role of the legislature is representation, legislation, and oversight, not execution. He questioned who would do the oversight if lawmakers were to execute projects in their constituencies.
“Why should MCAs from Taita Taveta, Kisumu, or Kakamega, go to Naivasha, Nairobi, or Eldoret to do their duties in these counties? A lot of money sent to the ground for devolution does not go for development as was intended; 70 percent of the devolution funds goes for consumption and recurrent expenditures. Only 30 percent or even less, goes for development,” Odinga said.
