In a petition forwarded to the Senate, the MCAs want the assembly allowed to operate an account into which the National Treasury will disburse funds meant for development in Makueni/FILE
In a petition forwarded to the Senate, the MCAs want the assembly allowed to operate an account into which the National Treasury will disburse funds meant for development in Makueni.
“The County Assembly is forced on numerous occasions to beg the County Executive to submit its requisition for funds to the Controller of Budget as the Controller of Budget does not recognise direct requisition of funds from the County Assembly.
“This has greatly affected operational autonomy of the County Assembly,” read part of the petition.
The 15 MCAs want the Senate to amend certain sections of the Public Finance Management Act to authorise the Clerk of the County Assembly to allow the transfer of funds from the newly created bank account.
“We pray that the Senate amends section 119 of the PFM Act by introducing a new sub-clause to read thus: The County Assembly Service Board established under section 12 of the county governments Act shall be responsible for opening and operating of bank accounts of the County Assembly” said the petition.
The MCAs are also seeking the amendment of section 109(4)(a) of the PFM Act to allow county Assemblies to operate their own Central Bank Account or any other bank account separate from that of the Executive under the Executive County Member finance.
On Friday last week, over 1,000 residents of Makueni County camped outside Harambee house as they submitted a petition proposing the dissolution of the county government.
READ: Makueni residents seek Uhuru over county dissolution
Business has been paralysed in Makueni after the MCAs kicked out the Executive.
The residents complain that the unending conflict between the County Assembly and the embattled Governor Kivutha Kibwana has impaired development in the area as several laws are yet to be considered by the assembly.
The latest demand by the MCAs is expected to stir a storm over since they have previously been accused of mismanaging county funds on numerous foreign trips and extravagant allowances.
The MCAs have however maintained that the trips were meant to enable them learn from other countries where devolution has succeeded.
Although the MCAs impeached Governor Kibwana, the Senate is yet to consider the matter since Kibwana moved to court and sought orders barring the Senate from discussing his impeachment.
Despite the Senate taking a three week recess to attempt to resolve the County Assembly stalemate, there has been no information on the matter with the Devolution Committee chairman Kipchumba Murkomen maintaining that his hands were tied as the court orders barred the committee from probing the matter.
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