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Kenya: Isiolo Groups Want Resources Given to Dispensaries, Sinking Boreholes

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6 years ago

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Civil society groups in Isiolo have expressed dissatisfaction with the county’s 2020/2021 budget estimates and demanded that the devolved unit allocates more resources for equipping of dispensaries, sinking of boreholes and empowerment of youth, women and disabled people.

The over 40 groups also demanded that resources be channelled towards murramming of various roads, supporting community health volunteers, purchase of more ambulances and giving of bursaries to needy learners.

Led by Isiolo Voice of Women Network (IVWN), the activists lamented over poor implementation of the county’s budget in the previous three years, saying it had hurt development and affected service delivery.

In the past years, the lobbies said, residents’ views shared during public participation forums were not captured in the final budget documents, denying them their constitutional right.

EXPENDITURE REPORTS

The groups, while presenting a memorandum to Isiolo County Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Abdi Duba on Thursday, demanded that expenditure reports for the executive be made public for perusal by the residents.

“We demand that the expenditure reports for the previous years be made public so that we can see how funds have been used and know whether all what was passed in previous budgets has been implemented or not,” Isiolo CSOs Network Chair Abdullahi Shandey said.

The law requires that the executive prepare and publish quarterly expenditure reports that show the implementation against the planned activities.

The lobbies lashed out at Governor Mohamed Kuti’s administration for initiating “too many unnecessary supplementary budgets” in past financial years that saw funds meant for development diverted to recurrent expenditure.

ROADS STATE WANTING

IVWN representative Consolata Lomilio said most feeder roads leading to health facilities, schools and markets are in deplorable state, making it hard for pregnant women to access crucial services.

Among the roads the groups want murramed include those connecting Kambi Sheikh, Elsa Ntirim and Kakili areas, Game and Lokit in Burat and the one connecting Kisile and Chumvi Yare.

“Sinking of boreholes will rid our people of the burden of traveling for many kilometres in search of the crucial commodity. We will keenly follow to see if the views expressed in the document are captured in the budget,” said Ms Lomilio shortly after presenting the memorandum in Isiolo town.