Debt:Use your own cash for retreats Bungoma civic leaders told

Written by Saenyi Daniel  Bungome residents following the budget reading estimates at the Bungoma Town Hall. Bungoma residents have demanded that money spent by the councilors on retreat should be their own cash and not the tax payer’s money, as they contribute to the debt that the council is trying to resolve with the millions needed for development. This was revealed during the budget reading read out by the Bungoma District council treasurer Cllr. John W Nanyakha  attended by barely had over fifteen councilors. The budget estimates mainly focused on addressing the issues of Health, Education, Water, Roads and Bursaries. The 2011/2012 budget estimated expenditure was at Sh 371,038,881.00 and if the target is fully met, the council will have a surplus of Sh76, 611 at the end of this financial year 2011/2012. The budget allocated for Personnel in the County are estimated at Sh126 million and that for operations at Sh 61 million. Maintenance got around Sh 54 million and Capital projects in the county were allocated Sh 97 million. Finally Debt resolution was at around Sh 33 million which just shows that our development is hindered by the debts we owe. Residents demanded that money spent by the councilors on retreat should be their own cash  because if it was the tax payers money, they are contributing to the debt that the council is try to resolve with the millions needed for development. Education was given priority as many wards got money for construction of classrooms or stationary upgrade. Kibabii, Kimaeti, Soysambu, Bumula, Milima, Makhonge, Lwandanyi were awarded school construction capital. Bungoma District council treasurer Cllr. John W Nanyakha. Health was the next major issue in the Budget and wards like, Kituni, Kiminini, Kabula, Sitikho and Lwandanyi all received about Sh500, 000 each for health centre construction or building laboratories. The Mission statement for the Budget was to provide social and economic services to the county of Bungoma through efficient leadership and strategic partnership. It’s ironical as no partnership was proclaimed with the absence level Bungoma residents claimed that this was an indication of irresponsibility on the councilor’s side as they were to represent their wards. According to the council chairman Mr. Julius Bakasa, the absence is because the councilors have gone to a retreat in Mombasa awaiting the elections. Currently the Bungoma County has experienced a budget drop from position 2 in tax payment to position 88 according to Mr. Wekesa Savimbi. Mr. Bakasa claimed that the reason for the drop was not known and that, either way, they should focus on the future. The personnel money was seen to have doubled from Sh 78 million to Sh 126 million and this according to Mr. Bakasa is not their doing but the ministry of local government. They were just given directions and maybe it’s to increase the manpower needed for development activities. As to how certain projects were chosen for the allocation of funds, the municipality also get orders on what projects to award money. The Local Authorities Service Delivery Action Plan (LASDAP) is the one responsible for who gets what and when. Some of the councilors were accused of evading the citizens by organizing meetings at certain venues and changing them at go time. The chairman was protective of his councilors saying they can never do that and residents just get the wrong addresses.