Governor lays ultimatums for budget approval

Lamu Governor Issa Timamy (left) and Lamu County Commissioner Joseph Kanyiri converse during the small scale traders exhibition at Mkunguni square in Lamu town on July 20, 2016. Mr Timamy has disapproved the county assembly’s adoption of the account budget. PHOTO | KALUME KAZUNGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Timamy accused the MCAs of going overboard by reducing allocations to key sectors.
  • Lamu County Assembly Speaker Mohamed Hashim called for consultations between the office of the governor, MCAs and county executive committees for the good of the county.

Lamu County Governor Issa Timamy has refused to approve the Sh2.6 billion budget until a collective agreement concerning budget estimates is arrived at with the county assembly members.

Hence, residents will now be forced to wait for an unknown time before the 2016/2017 budget is consented to.

The Lamu County Assembly on June 14 this year approved the budget estimates report, after which they expected the Budget Appropriation Bill to be presented before the House by the county finance executive, Mr Atwa Salim, before June 30 but he failed to do so.

The Assembly was consequently forced to adopt a Sh406.4 million vote on the account budget, hence becoming the first to take up such a budget in what is allegedly perceived as Mr Timamy’s stand in declining to authorise the budget.

Speaking to journalists in Lamu at the weekend, Mr Timamy also disapproved the county assembly’s adoption of the account budget.

He said the move undertaken by the MCAs was out of selfishness.

He said the budget contained serious allocation mishaps that would plunge the county into crisis.

The governor further said the MCAs were only supposed to make not more than one per cent changes to the financial report, which Mr Salim was to present to the House.

He said it was very wrong to have made too many unnecessary and unconstitutional amendments to the financial report.

Mr Timamy accused the MCAs of going overboard by reducing allocations to key sectors.

“The executive has a role to prepare the county budget and the law requires that the Assembly make changes that don’t exceed one per cent on that particular budget report. For our case, the Lamu County Assembly changed the budget report substantially," he said.

"In addition, they have drastically cut down allocation on crucial sectors like education, agriculture, tourism and fisheries for more than 50 per cent. I can’t approve such a budget since things can never work that way.”

PRIORITISE DEVELOPMENT

Mr Timamy also opposed the allocation of Sh417 million to the county assembly, saying the money is too high.

“Our total budget is around 2.6 billion and the MCAs want more than Sh400 million despite the fact that the assembly does not undertake any development activities. That means about 25 per cent of the budget just goes to their salaries,” said Mr Timamy.

He said that a larger portion should be allocated for development.

However, Lamu County Assembly Speaker Mohamed Hashim called for consultations between the office of the governor, MCAs and county executive committees for the good of the county.

Addressing locals outside the county assembly buildings during a public participation forum on the budget, Mr Hashim defended the assembly members arguing they had done everything in accordance with the law as stipulated in the Constitution.

“We have done our part and passed the budget estimates report. We are waiting for the executive in charge to present the Budget Appropriation Bill. The problem is with the governor and his executive and not us. Let us have an amicable agreement since the common mwananchi is the one directly affected,” said Mr Hashim.

Editing by Philip Momanyi