Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties spent zero cent on development!

Governor Nathif Jama, Ali Roba and Ahmed Jiir spent ridiculously high amounts of money in allowances and other unnecessary expenses, leaving our three counties zero amount of  money for development. More than 70% of the three county budgets were allocated to personal enjoyments and they did not spend a single cent on development during the quarter between July and September. A report by the Office of the Controller of Budget shows that during the first three months of 2013/2014 financial year, Mandera, Garissa and Wajir counties spent a measly 2 per cent of the money available to them on development while splashing hundreds of million on personal emoluments for county staff and Members of County Assemblies.

Mandera, Garissa and Wajir counties failed to spend half of the money disbursed in the first four months after the General Election, spent over 80 % of the 2013/14 first  quarter on travel expenses, personal emoluments and fake trainings done miles away! The counties spent zero cent on development according to the controller of Budget report. The counties ‘’were unable to use half of the money to offer services to their people. The counties will now have to return the money to the County Revenue Fund for it to be re-allocated” reads the report.

 Mandera spent 100 million more to pay allowances and non-essential expenditure in the first quarter of this financial year without the approval of the Controller of Budget, a report by the office of Controller of Budget indicates. This money was spent between July and September last year.

Wajir county spent 72.5 million Shilings on the same and zero on development.

The report shows that out of the total expenditure, personnel emoluments accounted for 55 per cent, operations and maintenance 38 per cent and development expenditure only 2 per cent. The Controller of Budget recommends the" rationalization of expenditure across the board to free up money for development.'' The sorry state of affairs in the 3 counties is a gross violation of the Public Finance Management Act that requires counties to allocate at least 30 per cent of their budget to development.

''Spending such huge colossal amount of money to fund these fat cats in the name of sitting allowances is an insult to the poor people of Wajir county who expect much from their government.Its a spit on the face'' posted  Ahmed Husein, a resident of Wajir, on his Facebook page.

Am currently studying County Budget Implementation Review Report First Quarter FY 2013/2014, County Budget Implementation Review Report Fourth Quarter FY 2012/2013 and Mandera/Wajir/ Garissa County-Budget Implementation Report-FY 2012-2013 reports from the Office of the Controller of Budgets and promise to give you the shock of your life come  Sunday Evening. Please allow me to go through these reports word by word, cent by cent. See you Sunday.