- Nakuru County has been on the limelight in the last couple of weeks
- Drop in revenue collection blamed on poor planning
Image: George Murage
The Senate has moved in to investigate how revenue collection in Nakuru county dipped from Sh3.6 billion to Sh1.6 billion in a span of one year.
This came as senators warned that failure by the executive in the county to respect court orders in regard to the on-going War Memorial Hospital saga was a recipe for chaos.
This emerged when the Senate Liaison Committee that brings together all chairmen of various committees converged in Sawela Lodge in Naivasha for a two-day retreat.
Committee chairperson Mohammed Chute said the drop in revenue collection in the county was alarming and needed further investigations.
The Marsabit Senator said Senate would do its oversight role to establish how collection dropped in one year.
“We are deeply concerned by the sharp drop and we shall definitely establish where the problem is,” he said.
Chute revisited the War Memorial Hospital saga noting that failure by the county to obey court orders was setting a bad precedent.
He accused the County Assembly of going to bed with the Executive and failing in its oversight mandate leading to the current crisis.
“If we had 10 other counties that decided to ignore court orders, this country could go the Somali way, it's time we nipped this in the bud,” he said.
Similar sentiments were echoed by the Deputy majority leader in the Senate Tabitha Karanja who called for a review on how the revenue collection had dropped in a short period.
The Nakuru senator accused the county assembly of failing in its duty of oversight leading to the current crisis in the county.
“I am petitioning the Senate to move with haste and investigate how revenue collection dropped as our MCAs have gone to bed with the Executive,” she said.
On the hospital saga, she said over 50 patients whose medical cover was under the facility were stranded with nowhere to go.
She termed the on-going occupation of the hospital by the county against a court order as inhumane and illegal while calling on the Senate committees on land and health to intervene.
“The only hope for residents of Nakuru and tens of dialysis patients lies with the Senate as the executive and police have refused to abide by court orders,” she said.
Karanja, who has been vocal on the issue, noted that the protracted dispute was causing families and patients’ untold suffering and eroding investors’ confidence.
“The raid and continued ignorance of court orders has caused fear and anxiety among investors who are fleeing the county in hordes,” she said.
On the workshop, Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei said there were many bills pending in the Senate, adding that all was set as the House resumed its sittings.
“This is going to be one of the busiest sessions for senators and we should plan and set our targets so that we can deal with bills on our tables,” he said.