Row over the expenditure and allocation of the over Sh10billion earmarked for the mitigation measures of the El Nino rains and coordinated under the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s office escalated today after the Council of Governors dismissed assertions that they have received the monies from the exchequer.
The new warfront between the governors and Gachagua came just hours after the DP said the governors should release the monies lying in banks to help the needy but governors have said they are yet to get any allocation.
Addressing the media today, Council of Governors (CoG) chairperson who also doubles as the Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru said not even a single county has received allocation from the national government towards the mitigation of the ongoing El Nino rains.
“We wish to state that county governments have not received any allocation from the national government towards mitigation of El Nino.” Waiguru stated.
She has urged the DP to stop politics of populism.
Speaking in Kisauni yesterday, Gachagua said governors should take responsibility of the emergencies.
“We do not want any Governor to blame the national government saying it is not donating any relief food, you also have money and instead of banking that money and not doing with it, please use them to help people affected with the flood. All the governors should suspend development for now and buy relief food, blankets and drugs to the affected residents in the counties that rains have become intense.” Gachagua said.
In a quick rejoinder, Mombasa and Siaya governors Abdulswamad Nassir and James Orengo respectively told-off the DP as hypocritical.
“Such utterances are against the spirit of cooperative and collaborative governments as envisioned on Article 62 of the constitution.” Waiguru added.
Further, the CoG chair has called upon the county governments and the national government to come together and intensify response strategies so as to mitigate the complex risks arising from the ongoing heavy rains and flooding in some parts of the country in addition to other humanitarian challenges.
She added that the national government has failed to disburse the funds.
“We note that his remarks suggest the county governments have received funds to support the mitigation. Counties are owed Sh62.58 billion from the equitable share which is yet to be disbursed.” Waiguru said.
She revealed that thirteen counties are owed Sh10.17billion for the month of September while 27 counties are owed a total of Sh19.64 billion for October and all counties owed Sh32.76 billion for the month of October.
The governors have added that the rains are becoming a tall order for some counties yet the choppers belonging to the national government are idle.
While in Mombasa yesterday, DP Rigathi Gachagua said Mombasa County had received funds from the national government accusing Mombasa governor of not using the funds to mitigate the situation.
Nassir said it is hypocritical for Gachagua who claims to be a truthful man to lie that they have received the El Nino funds.
