Lodwar, April,1 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
The County Department of Finance and Economic Planning has engaged Members of County Assembly (MCAs) in a consultative meeting keen to chart a way forward on strategies to reduce Sh. 440 million from the annual equatable share and conditional grant of Sh. 15.9 billion.
The County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Econmic Planning, Dr Eregae said, the move comes as a result of the rejection of the Finance Bill by Kenyans last June 2024. In the aftermath of the Finance Bill, he said, the national government advised the county governments to revise their budgets downwards.
“The Senate and National Assembly directed the Devolved Units through the County Allocation and Revenue Act 2024, which forced Turkana County to reduce its budget by Sh.440 million,” explained Dr Eregae to the Honourable Members.
For this reason, the Finance Executive conveyed that the meeting aims at facilitating consultations between the Executive and the Legislative Arm to agree on possible areas of reduction, while considering to ring-fence allocations for water and food security projects in the budget.
He confirmed to the members of the possible areas of reduction as the projects in the County Headquarters and those from the Wards.
The Supplementary Budget, CECM said, is work in progress as it includes further engagement between the Executive and the Budget Committee, later forwarded to the Cabinet and thereafter, to the County Assembly for discussion and approval.
Supporting this decision, Hon. Patrick Napion, the Chair of the House Committee on Budget and Appropriation had this to say, “we must abide by the decision by national government on reduction of the budget, and since this is not anyone’s making, honourable colleagues and I are ready to support the process by getting the said amount from the Ward Development Fund.”
On the same note, his counterpart, Michael Ewoi, Chair of the Committee of Finance, Trade and Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) has lauded the CECM and his Planning team for the consultative meeting with the Members of the County Assembly over the first Supplementary Budget. Additionally, he said, the consultative meetings should regularly be done for proper planning.
“As Chair Finance Committee, we have already finalized on modalities to reduce the amount asked for through our Ward Development Fund. However, going forward, we only ask the Executive, in the absence of the legal framework, to critically ring-fence the WDF, without this action, the development of this county won’t be realized moving to the future,” stated Lapur MCA.
He also challenged the Planning Department to organize feedback meetings to the members of the public countywide on the projects affected by the Supplementary Budget cuts after being aware of their development priorities through several public participation meetings.
Supporting the budget cuts, Chief Officer for Economic Planning Samwuel Ekale, has called on MCAs to support the reductions, owing to the rejection of the Finance Bill, convincing the legislators to effect the reductions before the budget is tabled for approval.
“I am cognizant of the fact that these budget cuts would severely affect the county’s ability to deliver some crucial development projects planned for implementation this FY’2024/2025,” Ekale said.
A host of MCAs led by Stephen Edukon (Leader of Majority) and Vincent Ekipor (Leader of Minority) were present during the consultative meeting. Benson Ewoton (Director, Treasury and Accounting Services), Samson Nakito (Director, Procurement), Francis Lokwar (Director, Planning), and Simon Wangila (Deputy Director, Budget) among others were also present.
