Kisumu County wage bill stands at between Sh33 to Sh34billion and corruption is to blame [softkenya.com]

Do you have a lead on a newsworthy story? Share news tips with us here at Hivisasa!

Kenya losses between Sh50 to Sh60 billion annually through illicit financial transactions, a media practitioner, Arthur Okwemba has said.

Okwemba called for full implementation of citizen participation by all the 47 Counties across the country to check the ever increasing debt.

He made the remarks in a statement read on his behalf by Jane Godia of Ford Foundation during training for journalists at a Kisumu hotel.

 Kisumu County Director of Budgeting, James Okungu stated that the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) is a wish list of the aspirations of the general public for the next 5 years and so it needs to meet the needs and targets of the beneficiaries.

Okungu explained that these are project proposals from the respective communities based on the programs (CIDPs) as identified based on the communities immediate development needs.

He echoed Kisumu Governor, Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o promise to establish village councils composed of respected elders recognized by the communities to spearhead such programs like identifying priority projects.

 “Kisumu County wage bill stands at between Kshs.33 to Kshss.34billion but with the second phase of the CIDPs, most of the 47 Counties will this time round get the anticipated effects of devolution right”, he emphasized.

A former Member of the County Assembly (MCA) in Kisumu, Faridah Salim said the Annual Development Plan (ADP) was meant to be the key planning initiative in the county government.

Salim said Article 220 of the Constitution required that a development plan include strategic priorities and programs as spelt out by the respective communities at the Ward level.

However, Salim pointed out that provisional ceilings for each sector must be ensured as they could not be given blank cheques.

Kisumu Standard Bureau Chief, John Oywa in his presentation said devolution has given the media a huge role in budget tracking which is a serious business.

“This way you will ensure very little funds goes to waste through corruption. The media is the eye, limb and ear of society. Without the media the public will not be able to comprehend the complex jargons contained therein”, he argued.