Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka recently faced criticism over the expenditures for the Madaraka Day celebrations in his county. The event, held on June 1st, 2024, at Masinde Muliro Stadium in Kandunyi, sparked concern among the youth of Bungoma County, who delivered a petition to his office on July 16, 2024, questioning the allocation of funds.
In response, Governor Lusaka provided a detailed breakdown of the Ksh.148 million spent on the celebrations, emphasizing that all funds were approved by the County Assembly of Bungoma. According to Lusaka, the expenditure included:
- Educational and vocational training: Ksh.1 million
- Madaraka emergency: Ksh.1 million
- Roads and public works: Ksh.24.8 million
- Other infrastructure and civil works: Ksh.6.8 million
- Billboard and signage: Ksh.18 million
- Trade, energy, and industrialization: Ksh.13 million
- Electricity bills: Ksh.13 million
- Lands, urban, and physical planning: Ksh.25 million
- Urban purification: Ksh.25 million
- Gender and culture: Ksh.5 million
- County handbook: Ksh.5 million
- Completion of Masinde Muliro Stadium phase one: Ksh.60 million
- Public service administration: Ksh.12 million
- Catering services: Ksh.4 million
- Advertising awareness: Ksh.1 million
- Digital communication: Ksh.1.5 million
- Publicity jumbo flag: Ksh.1 million
- Miniature flags: Ksh.2 million
- Flyers: Ksh.2.5 million
- Media mobilization publicity: Ksh.8 million
Governor Lusaka defended the expenditures, explaining that they were necessary to ensure the success of the celebrations and to promote development in the county.
