Meru County government is yet to pass its 2024/2025 budget as a standoff between the county assembly and the executive has stalled the budget process for two months.
This is well past the June 30 deadline stipulated in the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act.
In Meru, the standoff began when the county assembly passed the 2024 CFSP with several amendments, allocating Sh45 million per ward (Sh1.8 billion) from the development budget.
“The assembly ignored the requirement that it has to seek the finance executive views on recommended amendments. The County Assembly introduced its version of the CFSP through changing the provided ceilings…The CFSP was also passed outside the legal timeline,” Mr Mutwiri stated.
Speaking to Nation on Monday, July 1, Budget and Appropriations Committee chairperson Jacob Mwirigi said the negotiations occasioned the delay in the budget-making process.Did they have to die? Kin of those killed in anti-Finance Bill demos ask
According to the memorandum by Mr Mutwiri, it was resolved that each ward be allocated Sh33 million for development.
“The ward-based projects for the 2024/2025 financial year will be as follows: Sh18 as equitable allocation, Sh7 million from the Fuel Levy fund and Sh8 million for flagship projects. This will ensure an allocation of approximately Sh1.5 billion on development,” Finance Executive Ibrahim Mutwiri stated.
Mr Mwirigi said the Assembly now needs at least a week to conduct public participation on the budget estimates.
The move by the MCAs to allocate most of the development funds to the wards comes amid allegations that Governor Kawira Mwangaza is discriminating against wards whose MCAs oppose her.[email protected]
