Low turn out at County Assembly as MCAs move to amend revenue allocation Bill
Dr. Alex Mbugua The Chairman, Budget and Appropriation Committee speaking during the public participation on the Nakuru County Revenue Allocation ( Amendment) Bill, 2023 at Ugatuzi plaza on 29th February 2024.
The public participation on Nakuru County Revenue Allocation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was held today at the Ugatuzi Plaza, with some Members of County Assembly and members of the public in attendance.
The main business of the day was to look at how the Sh 1.65 billion that was obtained in the last financial year 2023/2024 would be spent.
There is usually a parameter that is used to allocate these funds to the 55 wards within Nakuru County.
Dan Murugu a resident of Nakuru speaking during public participation on the Nakuru County Revenue Allocation ( Amendment) Bill, 2023 at Ugatuzi plaza on 29th February, 2024.
So this is how it works; 30 percent of the revenue would go to the population, and equal share of 60 percent would go to all the 55 wards.
The land arrears would account for 10 percent
The amendment seeks to change this division so that the population gets 20 percent, equal share would be 75 percent and land areas 5 percent.
Therefore, the opinion and views of the members of the public was really crucial in giving direction as to which way to go.
Even though this bill is very crucial for all those in the society, Mtaa Wangu did a spot check at the Ugatuzi plaza to see how many people were in attendance, but a low turnout was recorded.
Members of the County Assembly and members of the public following proceedings during the public participation on the Nakuru County Revenue Allocation ( Amendment) Bill, 2023 at Ugatuzi plaza on 29th February 2024.
Many of those in the public participation were MCAs themselves with very few members of the public.
This is despite an announcement being made in one of the mainstream Newspapers.
Dr. Alex says that this public participation is very crucial for them as it enables them to understand the needs of the mwananchi.
“The constitution also requires that for any bill to pass within the country, it must go through public participation so that you get what the people really want,” he said.
The bill will be tabled tomorrow on the floor of the house.