Friday, August 30, 2013

Kisumu county runs up Sh11 million foreign trip bill

Friday, August 30, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY JUSTUS OCHIENG
THE Kisumu county government has been criticised for approving expenditure of close to Sh11 million on a foreign trips.
Kisumu City Residents Voice chairman Audi Ogada faulted the assembly for spending Sh10,942,901 on foreign travel last week.
Ogada said 47 county representatives spent Sh7,452,610 million on a six-day devolution study in Uganda last week.
According to the assembly’s Hansard report of August 6, the assembly approved Sh694,847 for speaker Anne Adul to attend the National Conference of State Legislature in Atlanta, Georgia between August 11-15.
The report on the speaker’s trip was presented for approval by assembly member Prisca Auma. The report says the speaker was invited by her counterpart of New Hampshire House of Representatives Terie Norelli to attend the summit in Atlanta, Georgia from August 11 to 15.
The assembly also approved Sh2,110,255 for a devolution study tour of Europe by majority leader Samuel Ong’ou, minority leader Edwine Anayo and assembly clerk Julius Otiende between August 25 and September 7.
According to the report the tour will expose the leaders to devolved systems in countries such as Germany, Holland, Austria and Italy.
Another Sh 137,799 was approved by the assembly for a ‘fully’ sponsored two- week training programme between October 21- November 1.
The training is organised by the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy. Kobura ward assembly member Malin Atieno will attend.
The report also shows that the assembly has set aside Sh546,389 for contingency in the budget for the trips.
The report was seconded by assembly member Morris Aloo. Even though other members like Caroline Owen and Mohammed Aslam approved the report, they expressed some reservations. Owen said it is important for the assembly to seek for sponsors for such trips.
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-134163/kisumu-county-runs-sh11-million-foreign-trip-bill#sthash.9MPNVH59.dpuf

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