This archive report was first published on 7 November 2019.
On November 7, 2019, the Meru Assembly's Budget and Appropriations Committee chair, Julius Mbijjiwe, tabled a supplementary budget that allocated Sh60 million among three committees.
The committee members were divided over the allocation, with some members alleging bias and others defending the allocations.
According to the allocations, the Budget and Appropriations Committee was to receive Sh25 million, the Public Accounts Committee was allocated Sh20 million, and the Implementation Committee received Sh15 million.
Implementation Committee chair Elijah Kirimi expressed concerns that the allocations were unfair and would affect his team's task of providing oversight of county assembly decisions.
Lucy Mukaria, a committee member, stated, "We have a lot of work that needs to be done. We have a mandate to provide oversight, scrutinise projects and ensure all laws passed in the assembly are implemented to the letter," Ms Mukaria said.
Ms Mukaria added, "The Implementation Committee is not a lesser committee. We need to work together and not be selfish."
Ruth Kananu emphasized the need for "equality in the assembly so that we can be equal to the task to deliver".
Peter Mutuma urged Speaker Joseph Kaberia to offer ‘Solomonic wisdom’ when MCAs took sides and a row erupted.
Finally, Mr Mbijjiwe moved a motion to create a Sh60 million pool from which all committees in the assembly will draw money for various functions on a need basis.
