Sh130m spent on Maracha district ghost council â€" AG
Dec 09, 2009
MARACHA-Terego district has spent over sh130m on a non-existent district council in the last three financial years.There is no established council in Maracha-Terego, according to the Auditor General’s 2006 to 2008 report.
By Dradenya Amazia
MARACHA-Terego district has spent over sh130m on a non-existent district council in the last three financial years.There is no established council in Maracha-Terego, according to the Auditor General’s 2006 to 2008 report.
In a November 10 complaint written to the Inspector General of Government, Constantine Embatia, a resident, noted that the district had no executive committee.
According to the Local Government Act, district chairpersons and councillors must be elected through universal adult suffrage.
“The vice-chairperson must be nominated by the chairperson and secretaries from the members of the council and approved by two-thirds of the members of the council,†Embatia noted.
He stated that instead of the district forming an interim government, they formed a temporary council.
“They went ahead to appoint secretaries among themselves to constitute an ad hoc executive committee, codenamed coordination committee, to justify their corruption. They even formed standing committees,†Embatia explained.
The district spent sh114.8m in the 2006/2007 and 2008/2009 financial years on allowances of the ad hoc council.
Another sh13.5m was spent on entertainment and welfare, while sh5m was spent on monitoring in the 2007/8 financial year.
Women, youth and people with disability councils cost the district sh33.8m in the 2007/2008 to 2008/2009 financial years.
Maracha-Terego has 20 councillors, including the acting chairman, and 20 sub-counties.
However, the acting district LC5 chairman, Canon Viga, said people were envious of their work in uplifting the infant district.
“The complainants are not happy with us because of the progress of the district.
Some of them failed in life and when they see things moving well, they start complaining.
“Otherwise, officials from the ministry of Local Government were on the ground and praised us for our work,†he said.
Viga wondered how his district could operate without funding.
“If they are complaining about the money, who do they expect to approve the budget for the district?†he asked.
He said his council was recognised and had not been queried on the money spent.
The council passed a sh406.9m for the 2009/2010 financial year.
MARACHA-Terego district has spent over sh130m on a non-existent district council in the last three financial years.There is no established council in Maracha-Terego, according to the Auditor General’s 2006 to 2008 report.
In a November 10 complaint written to the Inspector General of Government, Constantine Embatia, a resident, noted that the district had no executive committee.
According to the Local Government Act, district chairpersons and councillors must be elected through universal adult suffrage.
“The vice-chairperson must be nominated by the chairperson and secretaries from the members of the council and approved by two-thirds of the members of the council,†Embatia noted.
He stated that instead of the district forming an interim government, they formed a temporary council.
“They went ahead to appoint secretaries among themselves to constitute an ad hoc executive committee, codenamed coordination committee, to justify their corruption. They even formed standing committees,†Embatia explained.
The district spent sh114.8m in the 2006/2007 and 2008/2009 financial years on allowances of the ad hoc council.
Another sh13.5m was spent on entertainment and welfare, while sh5m was spent on monitoring in the 2007/8 financial year.
Women, youth and people with disability councils cost the district sh33.8m in the 2007/2008 to 2008/2009 financial years.
Maracha-Terego has 20 councillors, including the acting chairman, and 20 sub-counties.
However, the acting district LC5 chairman, Canon Viga, said people were envious of their work in uplifting the infant district.
“The complainants are not happy with us because of the progress of the district.
Some of them failed in life and when they see things moving well, they start complaining.
“Otherwise, officials from the ministry of Local Government were on the ground and praised us for our work,†he said.
Viga wondered how his district could operate without funding.
“If they are complaining about the money, who do they expect to approve the budget for the district?†he asked.
He said his council was recognised and had not been queried on the money spent.
The council passed a sh406.9m for the 2009/2010 financial year.