Bungoma governor Ken Lusaka has found himself on the spotlight after admitting that his county spent Sh25 million to beautify the country ahead of Madaraka Day celebration held on June 1, 2024.
Bungoma youths, in a petition submitted to the governor on Tuesday June 16, 2024, demanded him to explain how Madaraka Day celebrations cost the county 148 million, especially Sh25 million spend on flowers.
They also demanded an explanation behind the counties 352 bank accounts.
“On Tuesday 16, July, 2024, the youths of Bungoma delivered a petition to my office that indicated a number of issues which needed my attention. I have perused through the raised issues and wish to respond as follows; Madaraka Day Fund: Justify the Kshs148 million expenditure, particularly 25 million on flowers, 15 million on meetings and related costs. My response is that the money was approved by the county assembly of Bungoma,” the governor said and went ahead to provide details on how the money was spent.
According to him, Sh1 million was spend on Education and Vocational Training Centres. Another Sh1 million was spend renovation of district centres for early childhood education. Roads and public works cost Sh24 million as other infrastructural works consumed Sh6 million.
Sh18 million was spend on Billboard and signage Sh18 million while trade, energy and industrialisation cost Sh13 million. Payment of electricity bill cost Sh13 million as lands, urban and physical cost Sh25 million. Gender and culture cost Sh5 million.
Another Sh5 million was used in preparation of county handwork Sh5 million, youths and sports Sh60 million, completion of Masinde Muliro Stadium Sh60 million, public service management and administration Sh12 million, catering services (water, juice, soda) Sh4 million.
Other costs include;
Advertising, awareness and publicity (commercial)-Sh1 million,
Advertising, awareness and publicity (digital communication)-Sh1.5 million,
Advertising, awareness and publicity (jumbo flag)-Sh1 million,
Advertising, awareness and publicity (miniature flags)-Sh2 million,
Advertising, awareness and publicity-Sh2.5 million a
Media mobilisation and publicity-Sh8 million.
On the issue of 352 bank accounts, Lusaka provided a list of the said accounts.
Established public funds account (10), special purpose accounts- NGRIP account, Bungoma Municipality Urban development grant account, Kimilili municipality special purpose account retention account (nine), project management accounts- in the ministry of water and tourism (one), Subcounty Imprest accounts- for the department of public administration in all the nine subcounties (nine) and Mabanga ATC operation accounts- Ministry of Agriculture (two).
Others accounts owned by the county are Level 4 and 5 hospital accounts (19), Own source Revenue collection accounts- For local revenue collection in the county treasury (four), Vocational Training Centre accounts (152) and Health facility and dispensary accounts- for all dispensaries and health facilities in the Ministry of Health (146).
Bungoma governor Ken Lusaka responds to Gen-Zs over ‘use of Sh25 million on flowers’ during Madaraka Day celebrations pic.twitter.com/4WZ32wOtv1
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) July 22, 2024