Civil Groups Rally to Dissolve Siaya County Government
Civil society organizations (CSOs) in Siaya County have threatened to seek dissolution of the devolved unit as a result of ongoing disputes.
The CSOs have stated that they are dissatisfied with the current events in Siaya County that undermine good governance and accountability.
In a statement read on their behalf by Shirleen Adhiambo Otieno, Executive Director of the Siaya Muungano Network, the organizations threatened to begin collecting signatures to petition the President to dissolve the Siaya County government.
During a press conference held at a hotel in Siaya town, the CSOs accused the leaders of Siaya County, both the County Assembly and the Executive, of prioritizing their interests over those of the people.
Inappropriate budget formulation and implementation, concerns of impeachment, and noncompliance with constitutional principles and provisions relating to devolution, among others, were cited as factors affecting service delivery to the residents of Siaya County.
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“We’re aware that the Siaya County budget for the financial year 2023/2024 was delayed, and this has been fiddled by the County Assembly. Secondly, existing impeachment threats to the CECMs who don’t comply with the blackmail by the Assembly,” stated Ms. Adhiambo.
“Thirdly, MCAs have taken over the 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.”
She added: “MCAs are using their authority and self-interest to implement projects that are not even in the approved budget and plans to insert the projects in the supplementary for payment. We’re in a situation where the Executive the Assembly which has an insatiable greed.”
Peter Luya of the Tembea Youth Center for Sustainable Development stated that disputes in Siaya County posed a threat to devolution and called for a swift resolution to the matter.
They have therefore given the county leadership three weeks to resolve the issue, failing which they will begin a signature-gathering campaign to expel the entire leadership and install a new administration that will serve the people’s interests.
Civil Groups Rally to Dissolve Siaya County Government
