Lusaka dismisses report governors misusing public funds
Bungoma County Governor Kenneth Lusaka has dismissed the report by the Controller of Budget that some governors are violating the law by allocating little funds to development projects.
Speaking during the launch of a free fertilizer drive at Bumula grounds, Lusaka refuted the claims, urging the Controller of Budget to release factual and timely reports.
Lusaka further argued that recurrent expenditure had gone up in Bungoma County due to the huge number of workers in the county, including those from local authorities, which he inherited when he took office. He stated that it was not possible to chase them away overnight without following the necessary procedures.
“When I assumed office, I found a huge number of workers in the county, including those of local authorities. I can’t just wake up one day and chase them, it needs a procedure,” said Lusaka.
He further urged the Council of Governors to address the matter at a national level and called on the Controller of Budget to desist from giving misleading information to the public.
The Controller of Budget had accused some governors of violating the law by allocating little funds to development projects, with some counties spending beyond the allowable KES 2.33 on recurrent expenditure for every shilling put into development.
According to the report, Bungoma County spent KES 18 on recurrent expenditure for every shilling put into development.
The governor’s remarks come as he issued free maize seeds and fertilizer to 21,900 vulnerable farmers, with 500 benefiting in each of the 45 wards across the county. The move is aimed at improving the livelihoods of the residents and boosting food security.