The latest report released by Controller of Budget
Margaret Nyakang’o has continued to receive mixed reactions from residents of Garissa.
According to the
expenditure report by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakango, which was
released last week, the Governor Nathif Jama-led administration was ranked third on
development budget absorption.
The county absorbed 10 per cent of its development
budget in three months of the current financial year.
Abdi Mohamed, a resident, said that the report painted
the real picture on the ground as far as development was concerned.
“From where I sit, we can see the county carrying out
development projects, both new ones and ongoing ones, in the infrastructure, health, water and education sectors,” he said.
“During the previous administration, the county was crumbling. Nothing seemed to be moving. There was no water even in the town. Drugs were not in hospitals. There were no major projects initiated. We can at least see things moving with this administration.”
On his Part Mukhtar Dahir, a human rights activist
said that while the country was trying its best to put monies on development
projects, it should prioritize projects that have a direct impact on the
lives of the common Mwananchi.
"Matters like water, health, and education are where money
should go. We want to see drugs in hospitals. People want to see EDC teachers
being recruited and residents, including those in far-flung areas, getting
water,” he said.
Another resident, Ahmed Hussein, took issue
with the fact that many counties were still not allocating enough money for
development, saying that the trend was worrying.
In the report, Kirinyaga and Busia posted the highest absorption rate of 12 per
cent over the period.
Garissa tied with Siaya, which also recorded a 10 per
cent.
"In the first quarter of 2024-25, the county
reported spending Sh428.61 million on development programmes representing an
increase of 14 per cent compared to a similar period in 2023-24," Nyakango
said.
During the same period last year, Garissa spent
Sh377.50 million.
Analysis of expenditure by departments shows that the
Department of Trade, Investments, and Enterprise Development recorded the
highest absorption rate of development budget at 19 per cent, followed by the
Department of Health and Sanitation at 14 per cent.
According to the report, the county spent Sh87.43
million on the construction of an industrial park and another Sh68 million on the Quone-Mogodashe pipeline project.
In addition, some Sh20 million was spent on the construction of the Boulrary Guraffe Sanctuary and the same amount on the rehabilitation of Masalani Water Supply.
The Department of Education, Information, and ICT had
the highest percentage of recurrent expenditure to budget at 41 per cent, while
the Department of County Public Service Board had the lowest at 4 per cent.
Other projects that have been captured in the report
are the proposed installation of solar-powered street lights on the Lamu Road in
Garissa Town.
Others are Garissa Town, WSDP Project-World Bank (host community) Proposed Demolition and Construction of Parking and Fencing at
Qorahey Market, and Proposed Desilting at
Bula Abass Water Pan in Lagdera.
Last week, Council of Governors chairperson Ahmed
Abdullahi said the report was meant to malign the counties by misinforming the
public because the counties received money from the National Treasury at the
tail end of the period under review in the report.
"For the CoB to release such a report yet she
understood the situation the counties were going through was nothing but a low
blow to the devolved unit," said Governor Abdullahi told journalists at
the council's offices in Nairobi.
He went on: "We find contemptuous the reports of counties spending zero percent on development. As a matter of fact, counties received zero exchequer releases during the quarter. Any development done during the quarter was funded from last year's financial year arrears."
