‘It’s a Scam’: Meru MCAs Reject Mwangaza’s Sh67M Cow Project
The Meru County Assembly has finalized the decision on Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s Sh67 million initiative called ‘One Cow, One Needy Family’, branding it as a scam.
On Tuesday, County Assembly members approved a report from the Agriculture and Livestock Sectoral Committee that effectively prevents funding for the program in the upcoming fiscal year.
When addressing the assembly, Ken Naibae, the chairman of the agriculture committee, stated that their investigation revealed the program was being carried out unlawfully and lacking transparency.
“We observed very minimal monitoring and supervision of the dairy cows. The process of identification, procurement, and distribution of dairy cows has continued without a policy framework which was a pre-requisite for its implementation,” Mr Naibae said.
He mentioned that Joseph Ithana, an executive in agriculture, informed the assembly that they were utilizing funds from the preceding fiscal year without preparing a supplementary budget to formalize the spending.
In the 2022/2023 fiscal year, the county had set aside Sh17 million for the project.
“It is not possible for the government to be spending money allocated in 2022 in the 2023/2024 financial year without a supplementary budget. If at all it is true, then the executive is implementing an illegality,” he said.
The MCAs supported the committee’s proposal to impose budgetary penalties on the livestock department for implementing a program without a proper policy framework.
Jacob Mwirigi, the chairperson of the budget committee, stated that the ‘unauthorized’ initiative did not receive funding in the current budget.
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“This financial year, we allocated Sh50 million under a vote known as live animals. However, the Governor decided to convert it into a cow donation program. The Governor is implementing an illegal programme drawing funds illegally from the current budget. This is why it must be stopped,” Mr Mwirigi said.
MCAs also raised concerns about the accuracy of the executive’s claim regarding the county government’s purchase of cows at a fixed rate of Sh100,000 and a prefabricated shed at Sh100,000.
“How can every cow retail at Sh100,000? How did they arrive at the standard price? Are all the cows of the same age, breed, and quality? We reject it in its entirety,” Nkomo MCA Kithinji Ethaiba said.
MCA Kiriinya Mwenda, in his nomination, described the current implementation of the One Cow, One Needy Family program as a charitable endeavor.
“Philanthropy is not the prerogative of the government. The government engages in philanthropic work during emergencies. This is an attempt by the Governor to weaponize public funds against her opponents,” Mr Mwenda said.
Governor Mwangaza has stated that should the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) neglect to allocate funds for the program, she will persist in contributing cows through her personal ‘Okolea initiative’.
The Meru County government plans to triple the budget allocated to the initiative, aiming to provide 5,000 cows to underprivileged households.
In December, the Meru County Assembly suggested the removal from office of three County Executive Committee members, including the agriculture executive, for implementing the program without an authorized policy.
‘It’s a Scam’: Meru MCAs Reject Mwangaza’s Sh67M Cow Project