BY Frontier Online Team
A cash crush is staring its ugly head in Wajir county after the High court halted the Controller of Budget Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o from releasing Sh 2 billion meant to settle and clear pending bills and other obligations owed to the county government.
High court judge Anthony Mrima issued the interim injunction barring the Controller of Budget from releasing the funds to the county following a tussle and contestation over who is the legitimate county governor.
“Following the two conflicting centres of power at the devolved unit, there is a confusion on payment of the pending bills amounting to Ksh2 billion. I, therefore, issue an interim order that bars payment of the debts, and the same shall remain in force until a petition filed by three residents of Wajir county is determined,” Mrima ruled.
Judge Mrima argued that the interim order is aimed at balancing the interest of the county government and the unpaid contractors and suppliers in what political pundits and analysts say could further disrupt the smooth running of the affairs of the county government.
The judge highlighted that the interim order is intended to balance the interests of both the county government and the unpaid contractors and suppliers.
However, the judge declined to stop the execution of the budgetary estimates for development projects as urged by the petitioners.
“It will be imprudent to stop the entire development budget for 2021/22 financial year. This will have adverse effects on the operations of the county government. The contestation relates to how pending bills are being paid,” the judge added.
The judge added that the Controller of Budget had agreed that the budget could partially stay.
Ousted former governor Mohamed Abdi Mohamud and the new governor Ahmed Ali Muktar incessant wrangles over who is the county chief have left a trail of utter confusion in the county.
Three residents of Wajir had filed a petition in court to challenge the decision by the current governor Ahmed Ali Muktar to approve the payment of new debts owed to the county and leaving out the old obligations and pending bills.
Impeached governor Mohamed Abdi Mohamud had on September 7th stormed the County Headquarters and broke into the county governor’s office with court papers and addressed journalists inside alleging the sanctioning of his return to office barely two days prior to the swearing-in of a new deputy governor Hashim Musa Yussuf who was appointed by governor Ahmed Ali Muktar and approved by the County Assembly.
Addressing a crowd that had come out to welcome him while accompanied by Wajir East MP Rashid Kassim, Mohamud urged politicians from the Wajir to stop petty politics and dedicate themselves to serving the residents of the county.
” I am very happy today to be accompanied by Rashid Kassim and other leaders from Wajir who are here to witness my return to the office of the governor by law and not by force.” Said Mohamed Abdi
The Senate in May this year found that the Ex-governor guilty of gross violation of the Constitution, county government Act, and Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act and subsequently upheld the decision by Wajir County Assembly Members to remove him from office.
Mohamud moved to court which granted him stay orders until the case is heard and determined however his deputy was sworn in as the third county governor. Abdi maintains that he is still the legitimate county boss and had on several occasions attended meetings on behalf of the county government including one of the council of governors’ meetings.
The push and pull over who is the legitimate county governor has thrown the residents of Wajir into a predicament situation as they cannot tell who is their governor.