Kisumu County ‘needs Sh400m’ for Assembly, offices

By EVELYN KWAMBOKA

Kisumu County: Kisumu County requires Sh400 million for the construction of its chamber and offices, Speaker Ann Adul has said.

Currently, 49 ward representatives are forced to squeeze — on a first come first served basis — into a small room built by colonialists in 1935. It was from this building that the African District Council operated before independence.

“We are working in a crowded chamber and the public gallery is just too small. And VIPs have no place to sit,” said the Speaker.

The new building is to have rooms for committee meetings.

In its development budget, the assembly indicated that it requires the money to enable it construct a spacious chamber, committee rooms and offices.

“The Public Service Board is operational, including the tender committee. All procurement procedures will be followed in this project,” she added.

The ward representatives are required to meet four times a week to discuss county issues but this has been difficult due to lack of space.

They now meet in turns, a move that has seen some of the committees opting to meet in restaurants.

The assembly also has no official vehicles, which the Speaker said hampers effective operations.

In Migori County, ward representatives are also using a small area as a chamber for their sessions.

“We received some money from the Transition Authority for office renovations and 90 per cent of the chamber is complete,” Governor Okoth Obado said.