Expedite budget approval, Governor Abdi urges Wajir MCAs

Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi has asked MCAs to fast track the approval of the county's budget.

Speaking in Wajir town on Sunday, Abdi said the budget was already three months late and needed to be expedited so residents can get services.

He spoke when he presided over a consultative meeting between the executive and the county assembly to discuss service delivery. The governor said the county "has no more time to waste but to hit the road running.

“I want to urge our assembly members to process and approve the draft budget on their desk so as to facilitate critical and urgent operational and emergency services,” Abdi said.

He added, "We request them to study our budget that is meant to revolutionise service delivery and pass it within the shortest time possible so as to fast track services. We are late by a quarter and cannot afford any further delay.”

Three weeks ago, the MCAs dropped a bid to impeach the governor after the two arms reconciled. The decision came following consultations among leaders from the county.

Abdi thanked MCAs for resolution not to impeach him, saying there was a slight misunderstanding between the executive and the assembly.

He said it was important for the two arms of government to work in harmony for meaningful development to be realised.

“It is very important that going forward, we bolster our working relationship without compromising each other’s functions. For instance, we are aware the roles of the county assembly are oversight, representation and legislation and we appreciate your services as that of complementarity. As the head of the executive, I assure you of our utmost cooperation,” Abdi said.

Assembly speaker Ibrahim Yakub welcomed the truce between the two arms saying they will continue working closely with the executive to ensure residents get quality services.

He said MCAs will ensure resources allocated to the various departments are prudently utilised.

“We want to assure the residents that we will continue performing our roles without fear or favour. Whatever happened is now behind us and it is time to work," Yakub said.

Abdi directed his executives to provide efficient services and promised to strengthen internal controls on the management of human and financial resources.

“Let us not hear again cases of vacated offices, uncontrolled expenditure in the departments and discriminative application of regulations in service delivery.” 

The governor also praised the Senate for the resolution to end the revenue sharing formula that has seen counties go for three months without funding. Most devolved governments were on the verge of shutting down operations.

In the 2021-2022 allocation, Wajir will get Sh9,474.73 up from Sh8,545.50 this financial year.

“We are particularly happy that the stalemate over the revenue-sharing formula has been resolved without any loss in our anticipated budgetary estimates. We will instead have an upward increase of Sh929 million in the next fiscal year. I, therefore, thank the President, the Right Honourable Raila Odinga and our senators for the win-win solution,” Abdi said.

Edited by P.O