Paralysis in Kirinyaga as court blocks withdrawals from revenue fund
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru when she appeared before the Special Senate Committee on her impeachment case. Photo/SENATE
By Githinji Mwangi
The High Court on Tuesday issued a temporary order suspending the implementation of the Kirinyaga County Appropriation Bill.
Justice Weldon Korir also ordered the Speaker of the Kirinyaga County Assembly Anthony Gathumbi not to authorize any withdrawal from the county revenue fund.
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The order will stand until a suit filed in court challenging the Budget Estimate and Appropriation Bill is heard and determined.
Justice Korir also directed the Controller of Budget not to authorize any withdraw from the county revenue fund through the Integrated Financial Management System (ifimis).
In June 30 2020, the county assembly passed Kirinyaga County Appropriation Bill, which is meant to authorize money from the revenue fund towards the service of 2020/21 Financial Year as encapsulated in the 2020/21 Budget.
The order now temporarily shuts the operations of the county government at least until the matter is heard and determined by the court.
Over 10,000 workers are now set to go without salaries should the court delay in bringing the matter to a close.
According to the county executive, the Appropriation Bill 2020/2021 was illegally prepared and approved by the assembly.
Governor Waiguru argued that the assembly dismembered the budget statement sent to the assembly and came up with a completely new document which she said is illegal.
Justice Korir now gave Waiguru a second chance to fight for her budget.
The case will be heard inter-parties on August 12, 2020.
The Appropriation Bill was set to become law on Thursday, July 23, as the assembly as rejected Waiguru's memorandum for the second time.
A total of 25 MCAs voted to reject the memorudum with only one supporting the memo while another abstained.
The remaining six MCAs who have been Waiguru supporters walked out of the Kirinyaga County Assembly’s tent in Kerugoya town immediately the division bell rung.
