Assembly rejects finance bill saying it lacked public input

A financial crisis is looming in Kiambu County after members of the county assembly rejected the Kiambu County Finance Bill, 2013 on

Wednesday during a special assembly sitting in Kiambu Town.

The rejection came after two hours of debate when the members rejected the 70 pages document.

They said it was written by the county executive, chaired by Governor William Kabogo with no public participation as the Kenyan constitution recommended.

They also claimed that the bill proposed bizarre and draconian levies and taxes.

“If anyone was to go to court today, and halt the collection of revenue in Kiambu County, the individual will be justified since no money should be collected without a finance bill for reference,” said Sigona Ward representative Mutonya Njenga.

The deadline for the passage of the finance bill was September 30, 2013 which was the last date for transition.

Reverting to the old finance bill in collection of taxes and levies by the 12 sub-counties in Kiambu County would be illegal.

BACK TO DRAWING BOARD

Kiambu County Finance Executive Mary Nguli was asked to quickly go back to the drawing board and draft another bill.

She was asked to consider the recommendations of the finance and budget committee as collected from the public, elected leaders and any other group during their sittings.

Among those who opposed the bill were ward representatives for Kikuyu Binary Wainaina, Karungo wa Thangwa (Ngewa), James Mburuti (Komothai), Nelson Munga (Ndeiya), Mwangi wa Mwangi (Hospital), Mutonya Njenga (Sigona), and Joseph Mburu of Nyanduma.

The special assembly sitting was chaired by Speaker Nick Ndichu.

Those who opposed the second reading of the bill were mostly the elected ward representatives, while those who supported the bill were nominated members led by Wanjiku wa Kibe and Jackson Karanja.

“I support the second reading of the bill so we can look at the proposals of the committee.

Not passing the bill means that many activities in Kiambu will stall as we will not be able to collect revenue and provide services to the people,” Ms Kibe said.

The members rubbished the draft bill as inconsiderate of the needs of the people by charging bizarre levies for burials, running a shop, holding religious meetings and slaughtering animals while there were other ways of raising revenue.

“I oppose the bill because it did not consider the needs of the people whom I represent from Ndeiya, a very dry part of this county,” said Mr Munga.