Kisumu City Manager Doris Ombara has confirmed receiving Sh12 million from the county government to operationalise activities which had been paralysed due to lack of funds.
Ms Ombara who met Kisumu Urban Project donors and French Development Agency officials to evaluate the progress of the project in Kisumu on Wednesday said the county government has money which is part of the Sh90 million allocated for the city in the 2015/2016 Financial Year.
The funds were released following a complaint letter written by the city manager to the County Assembly protesting how her office has been starved of cash, hence hampering operations at the city.
“I can now confirm that the city has received some money however, little but we will use the little to do something as we wait for more,” she said.
Residents and traders have been on the neck of the city manager for what they termed laxity in service delivery which included garbage collection, bush clearing and maintenance of drainages.
Ombara who had defended herself by blaming the county government for not releasing money to the city confirmed that the city had received money and thorough work is expected to begin by weekend.
She said part of the money will be used to pay outstanding electricity and water bills which have not been paid for the last four months, while the rest will be used to hire casuals who will assist in cleaning the town.
“It is unfair for us to be collecting money from traders yet we cannot provide water and electricity which is vital for their businesses, but I want to assure everybody that we want to work hard and ensure the city is back to its normal state within the next one hour,” she said.
Even though the city collects revenue from parking, licensing and permits, the money goes to the county government which later allocates a budget to the city every financial year.