By Abdimalik Hajir
GARISSA– It has now emerged that Garissa county government has spent millions of shillings for cultural events held two weeks ago that were unbudgeted for.
Frontier Online has established that in both the main and supplementary budget, the county executive has not allocated funds for Promotion and preservation of culture and Heritage.
Ethiopia’s Somali region President Mustafe Muhumed Omar was the chief guest and Abdirashid Hidig, a member of parliament in Somalia was among dignitaries invited outside Kenya for the inaugural event.
The much publicized events which was also attended by Council of Governors Chairperson and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi and Health CS Aden Duale amongst other leaders including ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna and Lamu Governor Issa Timami have been described as wasteful events with no value to devolved units.
Garissa County assembly budget chair Hajir Dahiye confirmed that there was no money allocated for the culture ceremony, the ceremony is estimated to have gobbled over sh40millions.
”There was no any money meant for that events as far as we know and as a committee we are going to question the relevant officials involved,” said the budget Committee chair who is also Abakaile ward representative.
According to officials, each sub-county administrator was given between sh100, 000 to sh300,000 to coordinate the transport and accommodation of people shipped to perform cultural dance at the events.
Besides those from Garissa, other Communities spread in Kenya performed during the cultural event these included the Borana, Maasai, Kalenjin, Kikuyu, Mijikenda, Meru, Kamba, Aweir, Teso, Luhya, Munyoyaya, Wailwana, Arabs, and Kisii, among others, all the entertainers were given allowance and accommodation according to the officials who declined to be quoted fearing reprisals.
The ceremony which took the whole day was ended with Camel race and boat competition.
The event, themed “Celebrating Timeless Traditions Woven in Unity”, was aimed at fostering intercultural understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence among Kenya’s many ethnic groups.
Local leaders including prominent Islamic scholars including Sheikh Mohamed Abdi Umal criticized the governor saying he was setting bad precedent for NEP counties.
Others question the relevance of the event and value it adds to the county considering huge challenges including health, education and other devolved functions.
”Today we have huge problem of water, the county cannot give the people of Garissa water and here they are spending millions for cultural events, this is so sad and unfortunate,” said Garissa county human rights network chairman Muktar Dahir Osman.
He claimed that since the inception of devolution the county has ‘nothing to show’ a matter he noted have contributed to under development of the area.
“We are asking the county Government to stop dueling on non-issues such as cultural events and wake up and provide basic necessities such as water,” he said.
Reached for Comments Garissa County Secretary Mohamud Mursal denied that the county has spent money for the event insisting that it was sponsored by well-wishers
