The Trans Nzoia County assembly has passed the County budget estimates worth Kshs 8.3 billion, with the completion of the Trans Nzoia County Teaching and Referral Hospital negatively impacted with no funds set aside for the project. The County Budget and Appropriation Committee chairman David Kisaka while reading the Trans Nzoia County 2020/2021 budget estimates said the department will however set aside Kshs 5 million in the health sector for blood transfusion services and another Kshs 5 million towards preventive services.
The committee observed that the funds towards the completion of the County Referral hospital will not be disbursed. “The committee has directed that the Kshs 117 million grant channeled to fighting Covid-19 should have a special account to avoid pilferage. We will have this caveat put into strict observance
until the executive issues a satisfactory answer in fourteen days,” said committee chairman David Kisaka.
Committee vice chairperson Milcah Sugut however said the committee had recommend the cancellation of a contract worth Kshs 38 million to Kwanza sub county hospital which was done contrary to the Public Finance Management (PFM) act.
The County public service board was among the biggest winners after their mortgage of Kshs 52, 850,000 was enhanced by Kshs 10, 000,000.
The committee said the appropriation bill stands suspended for fourteen days pending the Governor’s approval, further calling out the lands, public works and health departments for contempt after failing to honor settlement of pending bills. “In the health department for instance no pending bills have been
settled yet there seems to be no funds. The Kshs 38 million contract awarded to Kwanza sub county hospital has raised an audit query,” he said.
Economic expert Robert Wanjala however faulted the budget saying the Kshs 7.3 billion allocated for personal emoluments, operations and maintenance in addition to development was too much and needed to be amended.