By Abdimalik Hajir
Garissa governor Nathif Jama has come under sharp criticism for launching at least 4 municipalities within the county with nearly zero funding.
Frontier Online has authoritatively establish that county government has only wired a paltry sh1.5million each of three municipalities of Masalani, Dadaab, and Bura in the financial year 2024-2025.
It was not however clear how much was given to Township and Modogashe.
At least according to budget estimate of 2023-2024 financial year seen by the standard, the county has allocated sh130million to Township, Masalani, Dadaab and Bura Municipalities.
In 2023, the governor went into launching spree of the municipalities which was much hyped with invitation of who is who in the country.
The Masalani Municipality was launched in May 2023 with Current Environment CS Aden Duale being the guest of honour.
“All small towns have collapsed after devolution, these towns have been booming before devolution and development concentrated in the major towns, I hope that municipalities will come with its own funding to restart these towns,” The CS said then in an event held at Masalani baraza.
The CS at the time urged the governor to work with all leaders despite their political affiliation for development’s sake.
Governor Jama also launched Bura which was Innagurated on Mashujaa day 20th October 2023, Modogashe was launched in June 2024 and Dadaab still waiting for President William Ruto to launch however it’s charter was signed in July.
During the launch the governor noted that he was fulfilling his campaign promise to have municipalities that he said comes with huge benefits including jobs for the youths.
“Through the municipalities we will employ revenue officers, Ugatuzi na Kazi workers and other resources for women, the offices and money to start is already available,” Said the governor Jama during the Masalani launch.
The Governor added the municipalities will not only get funding from the county government but also will attract funding from partners such as Kenya Urban Support Program.
During the launch the governor gave to the new municipalities officials the signed charter and unique flag in much publicized events.
Residents and local activist have accused the county of unabated embezzlement of public funds asking the rationale of launching and allocating funds to municipalities without given them their dues.
Muktar Dahir Osman, the chairperson for Garissa Human rights Network claimed the launch of municipalities was just political and a conduit to siphon public funds.
He said it’s also unfortunate that the county assembly have become a complicit noting that they have not been doing their oversight role.
“The launch was okay and we thought at least devolution will be realized at the grassroots level but unfortunately we see allocation but no funding,” He told the standard yesterday.
He said the county is good at paper work with no tangible solutions on the ground asking investigative agencies such as EACC and DCI to initiate money meant for municipalities and other departments within the devolved units.
The municipalities officials painted a picture of an entity abandoned immediately after the launch with only intermittent funding that is only enough for programs such cleaning of streets and bush clearing.
Frontier Online has also established that through the county assembly, they have laid the ground legally in the creation of the municipalities with the charter and board members in place.
Efforts to get comment from the county Executive Committee member for finance Abass Ismail were futile as his phone was never picked neither text messages to his phone were replied.
However, another official who requested anonymity alluded that the department has allocated funds as indicated in the budget.
The official however noted that there is no much work required at the municipalities since majority of their workers are paid by the county government.
