National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has written to Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, imploring him to appoint all municipal managers because the county stands to lose billions in funding.
In a letter seen by TV47 Digital, Ichung’wah – who’s also the Kikuyu MP – says he is greatly concerned because Kiambu County risks losing close to KSh1.6 billion in funding from the Kenya Urban Support Programme Phase 2 (KUSP-2).
Ichung’wah cannot fathom why Governor Wamatangi is yet to make substantive appointments of Municipal Managers in all the 12 municipalities, despite a letter from PS Charles Hinga.
“I would like to seek an understanding of what the challenges are in you making substantive appointments that are now not only slowing down services to the people, but putting us in a situation where we are bound to lose billions of Kenya Shillings earmarked in our 2023/24 budget as grants to county governments,” Ichung’wah says in the letter dated 11th October 2023.
PS Hinga’s letter to Governor Wamatangi
In his letter to Governor Wamatangi, PS Hinga had categorically stated that the Urban Areas and Cities Act 2011 amended in 2019, under Section 28, requires that a Municipal Manager be appointed for every municipality to implement the decisions and functions of the Board.
PS Hinga also noted that the remaining five municipalities will lose out on the multi-billion shilling programme.
“I am happy to note that seven out of the 12 municipalities in Kiambu County will benefit from KUSP II funding. Suffice it to note that with the advanced preparations for the commencement of Kenya Urban Support Programme II, these municipalities may not access the requisite financial support in the next Financial Year 2023/2024 amounting to KSh1,658,136,816 due to failure to meet the Minimum Conditions that include the appointment of Municipal Managers as required under the Programme.”
Kikuyu Constituency to lose KSh326M
Ichung’wah’s own constituency stands to lose KSh326 million as a result of what he describes as Governor Wamatangi’s “inaction and indecisiveness”.
The majority leader rues that the said money was meant for the tarmacking of several roads within his constituency.
“With this in mind, I therefore further seek your commitment that should the inordinate delay by yourself cause loss of this World Bank funding, you shall commit county resources to complete the projects,” he adds.
Ichung’wah now wants Governor Wamatangi to act with speed in appointing the municipal managers for the county to benefit fully from the funding programme.
