Vihiga budget finally approved after collapse of court case

 

Vihiga county finally got its 2021-22 budget approved following the collapse of a court case against it.

MCAs on Monday approved the Sh6.408 billion budget. The budget has been increased by Sh578.24 million from the initial Sh5.8 billion.

The approval comes after the High Court in Kakamega dismissed the case against it for lack of merit.

“Madam speaker, the reason why the budget was increased is to address salary deficits at the executive, county historic and current pending bills, payment of salary and wage arrears for county assembly staff and the Kenya Revenue Authority arrears,” budget and appropriations committee chairman Patrick Akhwale said.

Health department got the lion's share of Sh1.7 billion from Sh1.6 billion – an increase of 147.57 million.

While tabling the budget, Akhwale said there was a need to settle the arrears of health workers hired in 2019 under unclear circumstances.

 Shiru MCA Nixon Butiya urged the budget team to figure out how  community health volunteers will be compensated.

Gisambai MCA Erick Odei challenged the budget committee to reduce Sh100 million allocated for road maintenance by Sh25 million and add the amount to bursary fund.

“Sh3 million per ward is not enough and there is need to increase that fund to at least to Sh4 million,” Odei said.    BY THE STAR