Kisumu MCAs get more funds than health

Kisumu spent more on MCAs’ mortgages and car loans than projects like roads and health centres with the county using only four per cent of the projects cash in year to June.

The county representatives’ benefits cost the county Sh250 million against development spend of Sh98 million which saw the county ranked third in the list of counties with least amount for projects.

The Sh98 million is a sharp drop from the originally budgeted Sh2.5 billion. Purchase of a camp site from Chinese firm SinoHydro took up Sh13.4 million while renovation of Moi Stadium cost Sh8.1 million.

Governor Jack Ranguma spent rest of the amount on improving several access roads at an average Sh2 million.

“Out of the total development expenditure, Sh15.6 million was spent by the County on eight projects not included in the FY 2013/14 budget,” said Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo.

The county assembly has also questioned the roads expenditure and recently summoned the executive member for roads and chief engineer over stalled projects.

READ: Engineer summoned over stalled projects

“There are several projects that were awarded in May that were to kick off by June, we are in September yet nothing was going on,” said majority leader Samuel Ongo’u.

Unlike other counties, there was no purchase of ambulances, improvement of health centres or bursaries.

MCAs were last year granted Sh2 million car loans and Sh3 million in mortgages at low interest rates repayable by the end of their terms as part of a return-to-work formula struck with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

MCAs have been pushing for the money, arguing that little time is left for repayment of the loans. The county spent Sh3 billion (68 per cent) of expenditure to pay wages, further eating into the development budget.