Residents of Siaya County are accusing the county leadership of cleverly embezzling public funds using nonexistent projects.
Speaking at various public participation events across the county on Tuesday, they called upon the county leadership to revise its 2019-2020 budget proposals to avoid loss of funds.
Speaking in Ugunja and Siaya town, they also raised concerns over alleged bias in the initiation of development projects, further questioning the validity of projects branded 'other projects'.
“They must tell us the projects they are referring to as 'other development projects'," said Oscar Odhiambo of East Asembo ward, who said that some project proposals are plain and unexplained.
Sh1 million, Sh21 million, Sh132 million and Sh57 million have been allocated for 'other projects' in the ministries of Tourism, Agriculture, Water and Health respectively, according to the budget.
The residents also questioned the Cornel Rasanga-led government's Sh30 million allocation for the construction of hostels at the Barrack Obama University, which is not a county project.
The residents now want the County Assembly to reject the budget proposal where Sh2.9 billion (43%) has been set aside for payment of staff and only 30 per cent set for development.
“The budget must be rejected because the critical components and proposals that had been pushed by the residents have not been factored in,” Chris Owalla, an activist, told the Standard.