The County Assembly of Nyamira on Friday summoned the Finance and Economic Planning executive committee member over what they said was a deliberate move to allocate funds meant for development to recurrent expenditure.
During a special sitting convened by the speaker Mr Joash Nyamoko, the budget appropriations committee took issue with the Finance and Economic planning executive member Mr. John Omanwa over the alleged diversion of funds meant for development.
They accused him of not seeking the permission of the assembly before effecting such changes despite the assembly having technocrats who could have advised him.
Mr. Omanwa is alleged to have transferred millions of shillings meant for the development purpose to paying salaries.
They wondered how the common citizen could realise the fruits of devolution as projects are the only visible indicators of development.
This, they noted, cannot be achieved if development money is moved to other functions.
For example in health services department, he is accused of diverting Sh16,096,061 from the total Sh32 million approved in the supplementary budget for development expenditure to recurrent expenditure.
“If projects are not done, what kind of oversight can we be able to do? We cannot talk of oversight on services that are being given in offices. Mr speaker, it’s time that somebody has to take responsibility for trying to divert the taxpayers money to recurrent expenditure where they do not get any service,” said Hon. Peter Maroro who is also the chief whip.
Mr. Omanwa will appear before the committee on budget appropriations to explain errors in the report he presented to them.
According to the public finance management act section 154(1) (b); the county government entity should not spend monies meant for development expenditure for recurrent expenditure.