It is almost a year since Professor Peter Anyang Nyong’o started serving as Kisumu County’s second governor.
His leadership style and management is already being compared to that of his predecessor Jack Nyanungo Ranguma.
According to the May 2018 auditor general’s report on County government’s budget implementation review for the first nine months of Financial Year 2017/2018, Nyong’o and his officers in the county spent more on foreign travel compared to Ranguma’s last financial year in office (2016/2017).
“Expenditure on foreign travel amounted to Sh25.33 million and comprised of Sh.14.45 million spent by the County Assembly and Sh10.88 million by the County Executive. This represented 0.7% of total recurrent expenditure and was an increase of 15% compared to Sh.22.03 million spent in the first nine months of Financial Year 2016/2017,” the report read in part.
The report states that during Ranguma’s last nine months , the county collected Sh776.29 million in local revenue.
Under Nyong’os first nine months in office, local revenue collection declined by 25% to Sh.582.43 million.
Despite an increase in the amount of money being spent of foreign trips, the report says that during the first nine months of financial year 2017/2018, the County made progress in addressing some of the challenges previously identified as affecting budget implementation.
Some of the progress made include improved internet connectivity, resulting into effective use of Integrated Financial Management Information Systems (IFMIS).