Counties courting crisis as budget proposals stall

By FELIX OLICK

Kenya: Governors could soon face financial crisis if County Assembly Members continue to paralyse legislative agenda over demand for increased perks.

Financial and legal experts warn counties are courting a crisis if the county representatives do not approve budgets by June 30.

Some assemblies like Baringo have not held sittings since May 27 when members voted for an indefinite adjournment to protest alleged poor pay.

The law says the county assemblies must process and finalise approval of budgets and pass the Appropriation Bill.

Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) and Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) have cautioned that governors would not use any revenue before the two legislative requirements are approved. The commissioners noted under the new law, the Controller of Budget has to approve withdrawals but this cannot be done without an approved budget.

“I can tell you the counties are starring at a crisis. It’s high time County Assembly Members understand their responsibility before putting their interests first,” CIC commissioner Kamotho Waiganjo said.

Punishing people

CRA chairman Micah Cheserem also warned that Government may be forced to take over functions of devolved units if assemblies fail to meet constitutional deadlines.

“The Controller of Budget approves withdrawal against the budget presented. So if the county representatives fail to approve the budget, they are only punishing their own people,” Cheserem observed. Former Maragua MP Elias Mbau, who chaired the Parliamentary Committee on Budget in the Tenth Parliament, said its race against time for devolved units.

He said Public Management Act 2012 makes public participation mandatory in drafting the Appropriation Bill. “County ward representatives can even spare little time and pass the necessary legislation before resuming their self-imposed recess. Otherwise, the country is starring at a major constitutional crisis,” said Mbau.

Cheserem reminded the assemblies that the budget process is involving since budgets must balance available revenue. In Kisumu, Governor Jack Ranguma said some county representatives politicise important matters such as budgeting but he remained confident that they would approve the budget by next week.