The Kisumu County Assembly is now autonomous in its financial operations, a county official announced on Thursday.
County Executive Member for Finance George Ongaya said the county Assembly will now be drawing its money directly from the Treasury after opening its own bank account.
Mr Ongaya said the decision was arrived at following consultations by the Controller of Budget, Commission on Revenue Allocation and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
The move is aimed at ensuring autonomy of County Assemblies across the country.
Initially, County Assemblies drew money to fund their operation from county government accounts.
Mr Ongaya had been summoned to the Assembly to respond to queries from the MCAs since lack of funds was grounding the operations of the Assembly.
He explained that Treasury has delayed the release of funds for the months of July and August noting that Governor Jack Ranguma had written to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance Henry Rotich over the matter.
“Last week Governor Ranguma wrote to Rotich over the matter but unfortunately there is no response yet. We are still waiting, if the money is wired tomorrow well and good,” he said.
The motion to summon the executive member was moved by Nyalenda A Ward Representative James Were who said the Assembly was unable to run without funds.
“The assembly is in a situation that if not addressed will ground the operations and I request that the Executive Member for Finance be summoned,” he said.
The Assembly is currently unable to offset bills amounting to Sh5 million of which Ongaya announced will be paid once Treasury releases the money.
Mr Ongaya further explained that the county government is unable to borrow money due to restrictions by the Treasury and Central Bank.