Governor Waiguru-MCAs budget stand-off continues
Githinji Mwangi
Members of the Kirinyaga County Assembly have yet again voted to reject Governor Anne Waiguru’s 2020/21 budget.
A total of 15 MCAs yesterday voted to throw out Waiguru’s memorandum on the budget in which she explained her dissagreement, saying it had been altered by the Assembly.
Only one ward representative supported the governor’s memorandum while another abstained from voting.
The remaining six MCAs who have been the governor’s supporters walked out of the Assembly’s tent in Kerugoya town immediately the voting bell rang.
Her support at the Assembly seemed to continue to wane after Kanyekiini ward MCA Harrison Mwangi abandoned the governor’s camp and supported her rivals, claiming she had failed the county.
On Monday, Waiguru called on the Controller of Budget, Senate and the Jubilee Party to intervene in the county budget stalemate, saying operations were grounding to a halt.
The Assembly’s move now puts the governor in a Catch-22 situation as it will automatically become law after seven days.
However, she will have a recourse of going to court.
Speaking during the debate on the governor’s memo, budget committee chair David Mathenge accused Waiguru of trying to intimidate the Assembly to give in to her demands to include Sh60 million legal fees for lawyers who represented her in the Senate during the recent impeachment motion hearing.
Mathenge dismissed the memo, pointing that the governor is operating outside the law and should give the Assembly’s role of making budget respect.
“The Executive shoul explain how Sh194 million that has not been used since January as a result of retirement, resignations, dismissals and transfer of health workers in the course of the year,” Mathenge said.
He dismissed claims they had reduced Sh10 million for payment of casual workers in the Health department and another Sh10 million in the Environment department, terming it as an exaggerated political statement which should be ignored.
His views were supported by Majority leader Kamau Murango who urged the governor to stop inciting public emotions with propaganda, noting that they have not reduced any money to fuel ambulances.
He instead revealed that the Assembly allocated Sh111 million for fuel, drugs and other requirements in the department of Health.
Yesterday, MCAs revealed they will collect signatures to demand for disbandment of the county because they cannot continue working with the governor.
The MCAs said they are targeting over 100,000 signatures from all 20 wards, insisting they are ready to “bite the bullet” and go home.
