Thursday, June 20, 2013

Kisumu residents slam the proposal for 22 Prados

Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY JUSTUS OCHIENG
KISUMU residents have rejected the County’s budget proposal to purchase 22 Prados at Sh132 million and 14 Land Rovers at Sh98 million.
Speaking to The Star yesterday in Kisumu, they cited a number of issues in the statement for the fiscal year 2013-2014 that need to be questioned by the public and the County Assembly.
The Director of Community Initiative Action Group Kenya Chris Owala and the Kisumu City Residence Voice Chairman Audi Ogada faulted a proposal describing it as "lavish"
Yesterday, Owala said a proposal to review the purchase of the vehicles where by the assembly proposed to buy 12 Prados instead of 22 at a cost of Sh 72 million and 7 Land Rovers instead of 14 at a cost of Sh 79 million was still too high.
“The values and principles of public service under Article 232(1) include: high standards of professional ethics; efficient, effective and economic use of resources; responsive, prompt, effective, impartial and equitable provision of services; accountability for administrative acts; and transparency and provision of timely, accurate information to the public amongst others,” Owala said.
He said fuel guzzlers will waste tax payers money to fuel and maintain them hence need to purchase vehicles which do not consume a lot of fuel and the County Government must tell the public how many vehicles and property were inherited from the previous councils.
“I believe there are several vehicles and property inherited from the former City council of Kisumu, County Council of Kisumu and that of Nyando,” Owala added.
According to the statement seen by The Star, a proposal had been made to purchase Sh200 million land “for future economic activities.”
The statement reads in part, “a budgetary provision be made in the estimate for renting Ward Representatives offices at a cost of Sh 150,000 per ward per month before ward offices are constructed.”
Owala said it is imperative to bring members of the public on board in the preparation of the budget according to the Public Finance Management Act 2012.
However, Nyalenda A and B Ward Representatives moved to defend the proposal saying that of the 12 Prados proposed, 10 will be assigned to the ten cabinet executive secretaries while one each to Governor Jack Ranguma and his deputy Ruth Odinga.
They said the seven Land Rovers will be assigned each to the 7 constituencies in the County.
They also defended the Sh 150,000 proposed for their offices saying it will also include the salary for their staff.
Ogada also faulted a proposal of Sh 10 million for the renovation of the Governor’s house currently occupied by former mayor Sam Okello.
- See more at: http://the-star.co.ke/news/article-124880/kisumu-residents-slam-proposal-22-prados#sthash.gJhj725Q.dpuf

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