This archive report was first published on 26 August 2019.
On August 26, 2019, a long-standing budget crisis in Elgeyo Marakwet County was finally resolved, paving the way for the payment of salaries and provision of essential services to residents.
According to a statement from the Commission of Revenue Allocation, Governor Alex Tolgos signed financial warrants to allow the county to access funds for immediate payment of workers and purchase of essential utilities, including drugs.
The deal, brokered by Tolgos and the leader of the majority in the county assembly, Nathan Chelang'a, involved the passage of the County Division of Revenue Act and the County Allocation of Revenue Act, which would enable additional funds to be allocated to the county to address the budget deficit.
A technical committee comprising officials from the Commission of Revenue Allocation, the Office of the Controller of Budget, the county executive, and the assembly was formed to tackle the issues within two weeks.
The governor had initially declined to assent to the 2019/2020 appropriation Bill unless the county assembly ceded part of its budget to finance personnel emoluments amounting to Sh70 million and a further Sh40 million for medical insurance.
However, the assembly refused to accommodate the governor's amendments, saying they needed the monies to oversee the executive.
Following the mediation led by CRA chairperson Jane Kiringai, the stalemate was finally resolved, and the county can now access funds to pay salaries and provide essential services.
