Some Mavoko Sub County residents on Friday rejected a county beautification budget which had been presented to them by representatives from the Machakos County assembly.
They said they do not see the need for money to be allocated for planting and maintaining flowers in major towns within the county as had been proposed by the government.
"We do not see the need of spending Sh27 million beautifying Machakos County by planting flowers," said resident Dickson Mulei.
The residents who spoke at a public participation forum for the county's budget estimates 2015/16 at Mavoko Youth Empowerment Centre in Athi River Town said the flower project, under county beautification programme, is not a basic necessity and, therefore, should not be given any allocation.
Resident Mary Othieno said the Sh27 million which had been allocated for the project be struck off and taken to more credible development projects like infrastructure, water and health which have more impact and value to the public.
Athi River Township Ward MCA, Michael Mutua, said Mavoko Sub County being urban and cosmopolitan has peculiar needs as compared to other sub-counties within Machakos hence the need to fully engage its residents while generating county budgets to enable them prioritise projects which have more impact to their lives.
Mutua said the county should prepare budgets in terms of sub-counties, narrowed down to the wards instead of presenting county budgets in their entirety to locals at grass roots levels without indicating what allocations their wards would receive for development projects.
He said Mavoko Sub County needed to be allocated the bigger share of the county's budget since it generates the most revenue for the county's treasury.
Mutua said the county government should institute Mavoko Town Board to help the sub-county effectively and efficiently manage its affairs.