A section of members of the Kisumu County assembly are contemplating stopping the implementation of the development projects after detecting disparities in the 2015-16 budget.
The members said they plan to write to the Office of the Ombudsman, the Senate and finally go to court to stop the implementation of the county’s projects estimated to cost Sh1.7 billion in the 2015/2016 budget.
The matter arose Wednesday, during a heated debate on a motion tabled by Ahero ward representative Onyango Aloo questioning the disparities and the unequal distribution of funds and resources to the county’s 35 wards.
Aloo had indicated that the Executive contravened the wishes of the people by changing the approved budget without the authority of their representatives and that the assembly should provide direction towards remedying the disparity in the budget to ensure parity and equity for all.
"The House should compel the relevant officers in the Executive to appear before this assembly to explain the anomalies in the budget distribution," he said, adding that the House finds the budget to be unconstitutional by not adhering to the requirement of equity.
East Seme ward representative Aggrey Ogosi pointed out that it was unfair for the county to allocate 70 per cent of the development budget to 10 wards, leaving the 30 per cent to be distributed among 25 wards.
Osano said Chemelil residents are also contemplating suing the county government for subsequent marginalisation in the budget since 2013.
"We are planning to go to court to sue the government over lack of equitable distribution of resources and side-lining of Chemelil residents over the years," Osano said.
He claimed that Chemelil ward has been receiving less funds compared to even the nearest wards neighbouring it.
The Deputy Speaker Pamela Jossy confirmed that the assembly had established lack of equity in distribution and that in deed there were disparities noted in the 35 wards.
She also indicated that it was clear that some projects were appearing on the wrong wards.
"I commit these findings to the committees of Finance and Budget and Appropriation for further scrutiny after which they will table a report on their findings and recommendations," Jossy said.
She also ruled that the committees should ensure that the projects are listed in the specific wards earmarked for them.