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Senator demands probe into Sh148m Madaraka Day expenditure

Governor Lusaka said the Bungoma county assembly approved Sh148 million spent during the event.

In Summary

•Governor Lusaka said the Bungoma county assembly approved a total of Sh148 million that was spent during the Madaraka day celebrations.

•Sh18 million went to billboards and signage while trade, energy and industrialization consumed Sh13 million.

Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli.
Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli.
Image: TONY WAFULA

Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli has asked the standing committee on Finance to probe how the Bungoma government spent Sh148 million set aside for the Madaraka Day celebrations.

This year’s national event was held at the Masinde Muliro Stadium in Bungoma county.

“The committee should state the total amount budgeted and allocated towards facilitating the Madaraka day celebrations,” Wakoli said.

The Ford Kenya legislator asked the committee to explain how the funds were allocated and used.

“In the statement, the committee will also explain to us how procurement was conducted, stating the methods used and further explaining the details of the companies that were awarded tenders,” he said.

Senator Wakoli’s sentiments come barely a week after Bungoma governor Kenneth Lusaka read the Madaraka Day expenditure after being pressured by Gen Z.

Governor Lusaka said the Bungoma county assembly approved a total of Sh148 million that was spent during the event.

“The money was approved by the county assembly of Bungoma and spent accordingly,” Lusaka said.

Lusaka gave a breakdown of expenditures, indicating that one million shillings was spent on education and vocational training and another one million on the renovation of the District Centre for Early Childhood Education. 

The Bungoma government further spent Sh24 million on roads and public works and Sh6 million on other infrastructural initiatives. 

Sh18 million went to billboards and signage while trade, energy, and industrialisation took up Sh13 million. The county used Sh13 million to clear electricity bills while Sh25 million went to land, urban and physical planning. Gender and culture consumed Sh5 million.

Others were the preparation of the county handbook (Sh5 million), youth and sports  (Sh60 million), completion of Masinde Muliro Stadium (Sh60 million), public service management and administration (Sh12 million), and catering services (Sh4 million).

Advertising, awareness, and publicity consumed one million shillings, digital communication (Sh1.5 million), advertising, awareness, and publicity — jumbo flag (one million shillings), advertising, awareness, and publicity —miniature flags (Sh2 million), advertising, awareness and publicity (Sh2.5 million) and media mobilization and publicity Sh8 million.

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