Duale to petition Yatani to explain drought emergency fund use

 

Former National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale has said he will petition Treasury CS Ukur Yatani to explain how the Sh2 billion that was allocated to drought has been utilised.

Speaking in Garissa on Saturday, the Garissa township MP said once Parliament resumes on Tuesday he will seek to summon the CS to the House to explain how the funds have been managed.

He regretted that the activities on the ground do not conform to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s pronouncement.

The government had in the months of October and November set aside Sh2.4 billion to handle the situation disclosing that Sh1.2 billion had been spent on purchasing food in the month of October.

Garissa township MP Aden Duale joins traditional dancers at a function in Bula iftin Garissa on Saturday.
Image: STEPHEN ASTARIKO

The remaining Sh1.2 billion will also be spent on purchasing food for the affected counties.

During his Mashujaa Day speech, Uhuru directed  the National Treasury to allocate Sh1.5 billion in support of the communities affected by the ongoing drought in the ASAL counties as part of the  National Livestock Offtake Programme.

According to Duale there is little to show on the ground as far as drought mitigation is concerned.

“Mr .president you cannot declare drought a national disaster. Then through your powers direct that Sh2 billion be set aside to handle the situation but the purported Sh2 billion is not seen on the ground,” he said.

He added: “Public servants cannot use the drought as a conduit of corruption”.

jig Garissa township MP Aden Duale joins traditional dancers to a jig in Bula Iftin,Garissa. he promised to petition Treasury CS Ukur Yatani to explain how the Ksh 2 billion that was allocated to drought has been utilized.
Image: STEPHEN ASTARIKO

“The government should not just sit in Nairobi, by this time we ought to see a lot of activities from the state. We need to stop playing public relations with the lives of our people,” Duale said.

Two seasons of suppressed rainfall have significantly affected not only livestock but human lives, with the situation worsening.

Government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna while speaking in Wajir on Thursday  last week during a food distribution exercise said they were fully aware of the situation in the 23 most-affected counties and will remain proactive in providing food and other essentials.   BY THE STAR