Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka has announced that Sh25 million was allocated for the town’s beautification efforts in preparation for Madaraka Day celebrations.
In a press briefing on Friday, Lusaka detailed that the beautification project included the acquisition and planting of flowers along the Musikoma-Kanduyi dual-carriageway.
Addressing concerns raised by Gen Z during recent protests, Lusaka confirmed that the Bungoma County Assembly had sanctioned a total of Sh148 million for the celebrations.
“The funds used for the national event were spent appropriately,” Lusaka stated.
The expenditure breakdown is as follows: Education and Vocational Training Centres received Sh1 million; renovation of district early childhood education centers, Sh1 million; roads and public works, Sh24 million; other infrastructural projects, Sh6 million.
Additional allocations included: Billboard and signage, Sh18 million; trade, energy, and industrialization, Sh13 million; electricity bills, Sh13 million; lands, urban, and physical planning, Sh25 million; gender and culture, Sh5 million.
Further expenditures included: county handwork preparation, Sh5 million; youth and sports, Sh60 million; Masinde Muliro Stadium completion, Sh60 million; public service management and administration, Sh12 million; catering services (water, juice, soda), Sh4 million.
For advertising and publicity, the following amounts were allocated: commercial advertising, Sh1 million; digital communication, Sh1.5 million; jumbo flags, Sh1 million; miniature flags, Sh2 million; general advertising and publicity, Sh2.5 million; media mobilization and publicity, Sh8 million.
Lusaka also addressed the issue of Bungoma operating 352 bank accounts, as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report. These accounts include public funds accounts (10), special purpose accounts such as NGRIP and municipal development grants (10), project management accounts for water and tourism (1), subcounty imprest accounts (9), and Mabanga ATC operation accounts (2).
Other accounts include: Level 4 and 5 hospital accounts (19), local revenue collection accounts (4), vocational training center accounts (152), and health facility accounts (146).
Additionally, Lusaka has placed the CEC for Gender, Culture, Youth, and Sports on mandatory one-month leave pending an investigation into alleged corruption within her department.
