Senator's letter on budget leads to a ceasefire

Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

A stinging letter by Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot to the Executive and the Legislature over the slashing of health department funding has led to a ceasefire between the two arms of the county government.

Cheruiyot, in a letter seen by The Standard to Governor Paul Chepkwony and copied to the Clerk of the County Assembly Martin Epus, noted that the ward representatives had reduced the health service delivery allocation in the supplementary budget.

"The reduction poses direct and indirect impact on the operation of the County Health Department," he said.

But speaking yesterday, Speaker Dominic Rono assured the public that the Assembly's leadership will sit down with the Executive and pass a budget that will cushion area residents from the effects of Covid-19.

"We acknowledge that members of the public are reeling from effects of Covid-19. This calls for a change of tack to pave way for passage of a budget that will cushion residents against the pandemic," he said.

The speaker added: "Members of County Assembly should understand that budget-making process shouldn't be used to hold the Executive to ransom; we all want the county to prosper because it belongs to us all."

At the same time, Rono tasked the new Deputy Governor Lilly Ngok, who is the leader of government business to use her diplomatic skills to broker a win-win budget.

"She should organise a meeting with the county assembly leadership and let's look at the proposals so that when the time will come, the assembly will pass a budget reflective of the governor's manifesto, and which Kericho residents will be proud of," he said.

Senator Cheruiyot called on the Health Committee to visit the Kericho County Hospital and other health facilities to appraise themselves on their state.