EDITORIAL: Leaders should direct spending to core needs

The rate at which the county governments are embarking on reckless spending of taxpayers money has now reached alarming proportions.

The ward representatives have shocked Kenyans with their numerous benchmarking trips abroad while those they represent wallow in despair.

The Nairobi county government has now announced that it will spend Sh400 million on building new offices for its ward representatives.

It will spend a further Sh100 million on furniture and computers for the offices.

According to City Hall, nominated members of the County Assembly and chairpersons of various committees lack work spaces.

It also says that majority of the members of the County Assembly are operating from rented offices.

At a time when the national government has rolled out austerity measures in a bid to rein in spending, it is now crystal clear that our leaders are not heeding the financial probity call.

It is shocking to learn that pressing issues facing Nairobi residents have received low budgetary allocations. For example, a paltry Sh80 million will be spent on medical equipment, oxygen plant and laundry at Pumwani Maternity Hospital and Sh105 million on medical canners and upgrade of maternal and neonatal wards at Mbagathi Hospital.

A layman would not begrudge the county government if it announced a similar budget to provide water to residents or sheds for traders. But spending the huge amount for the sole purpose of making the ward representatives comfortable is clear proof that they do not consider the interests of residents.

We urge the ward representatives to ensure that they prioritise service delivery for those they represent.

They should not forget that Nairobi residents pay taxes and expect nothing less than proper services.

Garbage is still strewn across many parts of the city while water shortages have become endemic. Roads in the city are in a dilapidated condition and the poor drainage systems needs a total overhaul.

These are the crucial issues that our ward representatives should be striving to improve instead of allocation huge amounts of public funds for their own comfort.