[Kisii Governor James Ongwae in a past event. His area County Assembly is on spot after passing a controversial Bill that would see top county officials pocket millions at the end of their tenure in office. Photo/Hivisasa.com]
Outrage has greeted a bill handing fuel guzzlers as retirement to senior Kisii County executives among them Governors and his deputies.
The bill, among other things, gives a staggering Sh 18 m as gratuity to the Governor and his deputy at the end of their first term in office.
Ward Reps will get Sh 5 million while former Mayors and Councilors Sh 3 m and Sh 50,000 as pension respectfully.
The bill due for assent further provides a retinue of staff, among them a janitor, and one high end car every four years till they die.
Their spouses will draw the benefits if the intended beneficiaries die according when the bill dubbed Kisii County Retirements Benefits (Governors Designated) Bill 2016 and moved by Chitago/Borabu Ward Rep Albert Oino will be signed by Governor James Ongwae.
The wives will be entitled to a pension amounting to fifty percent of the salary paid to their spouses who die while serving in office.
Yesterday Kitutu Chache MP Richard Onyonka termed the bill as immoral and likely to plunge the county into crisis.
He said the County would have its priorities misplaced if the Governor assents it into law.
“There are more pressing things that need to be done other than discussing things that are a prerogative of the National parliament and the Senate,” he said.
He further said the law does not allow those serving in the first term to be awarded pension.
“Let whatever is discussed there be consistent with the law,” he said.
He said issues touching salaries and gratuities is a preserve of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
Governorship candidate Dr Charles Maranga said the bill, if passed will rob the devolved unit of the resources urgently needed to help it move it forward.
He said the County has already failed paying contractors and wondered where it will get money to pay the hefty retirement packages.
Members of the Rigena Human Rights Group termed the bill as unacceptable saying they will go to court as soon as the governor assents to it.