Civil society organizations (CSOs) in Siaya County have threatened to dissolve the Siaya County government over ongoing wrangles.
The CSOs have expressed dissatisfaction with the current events undermining good governance and accountability in Siaya County.
The organizations vowed to initiate a signature collection process to ask the President to dissolve the Siaya County government in a statement delivered on their behalf by Shirleen Adhiambo Otieno, Executive Director of Siaya Muungano Network.
Did you read this?
During a news conference at a hotel in Siaya town, the CSOs accused Siaya County politicians, both the County Assembly and the Executive, of putting their interests before of the people's.
They identified incorrect budget-making and execution processes, impeachment threats, and non-adherence to constitutional principles and devolution clauses, among other things, as some of the significant issues impeding service delivery to the people of Siaya County.
"We are aware that the Siaya County budget for fiscal year 2023/2024 has been delayed and that this has been tampered with by the County Assembly." Second, existing impeachment threats against CECMs who do not cooperate with the Assembly's blackmail," Ms. Adhiambo remarked.
“Thirdly, MCAs have taken over budget making process, implementation and oversight. The MCAs have adopted weekly sermons to CECMs, which are used as a way of looking for tenders that can be awarded to the MCAs and their cronies.”
MCAs use their authority and self-interest to implement projects not even in the approved budget and plan to insert them in the supplementary for payment. We’re in a situation where the Executive the Assembly has an insatiable greed.” she added.
Peter Luya of the Tembea Youth Centre for Sustainable Development warned that squabbles in Siaya County were jeopardizing devolution and thus called for a quick resolution.
They have thus given the county leadership three weeks to resolve the situation, failing which they will commence a signature collection drive to send the entire leadership home and put in place a new government that will serve the people's interests.
