The Senate has called on County Assemblies to play theirrightful role to oversight funds sent by the National government as one way ofweeding corruption in counties.
According to Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka, the only way to ensure public monies were spent as required was by Members of County assemblies being the watchdog to which they were elected to be.
While admitting corruption in counties was rife, Lusaka saidit was the duty of MCA’s to ensure they follow up on projects being implementedand raise the alarm where they find the funds have been misused.
The Speaker said the constitution was clear on the duties that each level of government has to play noting that county assemblies were key to successful implementation of devolution.
Lusaka was speaking on Friday when he opened county assemblies’ speakers’ forum at Enashipai resort in Naivasha where he urged themto help fight corruption that he said had turned to be an epidemic.
“When you hear people say whether we should scrap the position of MCA, Senator or even that of the Governor is because Kenyans have not seen our work hence we should be more proactive in dealing with matters devolution”.
He said the President yesterday signed several bills thatwill pave way for counties to receive funds from National government addingthat it was upon county assemblies to ensure that they were spent in a prudentand sustainable way.
“These funds come from Kenyans who are the taxpayers and itis your duty to ensure the bills made and assented to are in line withdevelopment agenda of your specific regions while factoring in the Big Four”.
Lusaka at the same time called on the speakers to ensure that the rulings they make have positive implications to the society.