Court blocks release of funds for Bomet County

BOMET COUNTY: Funding for Bomet County has been withheld by the Controller of Budget, following a suit filed by two individuals.

Tyson Ng'etich and Peter Lang'at, through lawyer Kabue Thumi moved to court seeking to have the approved financial budget of the County Government nullified arguing there were two different budget estimates and that constitutional provisions were not adhered to.

They also want the budget making process declared unlawful since they were prepared contrary to the public finance management Act.

 “The budget estimates approved by the assembly on July 28 this year do not conform to the county integrated development plan and the fiscal strategy paper,” submitted Thumi.

Thumi told High Court Judge Isaac Lenaola that the estimates approved by the county assembly did not involve public participation.

"The county assembly violated article 196 of the constitution by not conducting public participation on the budget estimates for the year ending 2015," submitted the counsel.

The duo are seeking a declaration by the court that the Bomet County appropriation Act and the amendments conducted this year were unprocedural, unconstitutional, null and void.

They also want the controller of budget to release a half of the amount included in the budget estimates submitted by the county assembly pending the passing of a new appropriation Act that comp-lies with the constitution. The suit will be heard on September 12.