The county government has moved to address an anomaly that could have rendered its Sh35.9 billion 2017-18 budget null and void.
Last week, the Star reported the budget risked being nullified as the Public Finance Management Act, which guides the process, was violated.
The county Treasury published the Appropriations Bill — authorising expenditure — before MCAs passed the budget estimates, violating the law. Yesterday, speaker Alex Magelo ordered Finance executive Gregory Mwakanongo to republish the Bill.
Section 129 ( 7 ) of the Act reads, “Upon approval of the budget estimates by the county assembly, the CEC member for Finance shall prepare and submit a County Appropriation Bill to the assembly of approved estimates.”
Magelo instructed the assembly to write to the Finance department to forward a properly published Appropriations Bill in accordance with the PFM Act for the assembly’s prompt consideration.
He said the executive erred in publishing the Bill in the gazette before getting written communication from the assembly about approval of the estimates.
