Members of the County Assembly of Kirinyaga have stepped up the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) by setting up a Sh20 million kitty and an ad hoc committee to coordinate mitigation measures.
The kitty will aid the County Government buy medical supplies, sanitisers, water tanks, soap and institute measures to minimise community spread of the disease.
A fortnight ago, the Assembly had appropriated Sh4 million in the Supplementary Budget for the pandemic.
To synchronise intervention measures to stop the spread of the disease, a nine member Covid-19 Response Ad-Hoc Committee was formed through a resolution proposed by the Leader of the Majority Party, James Kamau Murango.
Baragwi Ward MCA, David Mathenge while moving the first Motion, noted that the four million shillings earlier set aside could not be enough to cater for the enormous resources required to fight Covid-19.
The Assembly however tasked the County Executive Committee member for Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation to come up with an expenditure plan of the Sh 20million kitty which will be approved by the Assembly.
“It might take a long process to pass another Supplementary Budget but as an Assembly we are ready to approve additional funds for the Department of Health to fight Covid-19,” stated Mathenge.
The Motion which was seconded by Mathew Ireri Erastus was overwhelmingly supported by members who underscored the need for the County Government to step up measures to safeguard the population against the global pandemic.
Members of the Covid-19 Ad-Hoc Committee includes, MCAs John Baptist Kanga (Wamumu), Peter Njomo (Mutithi), Samuel Maina (Nyangati), Johnson Munene (Kiini), Mathew Ireri Erastus (Ngariama) and Specially Elected Members Lucy Njeri, Caroline Muriithi, Rose Njeru and Scolastica Nyawira.
The Committee will monitor and report to the Assembly all the activities the County Government is implementing as well as ensure funds set aside for the pandemic are utilised well.
While moving the Motion, Murango pointed out that supplies bought through the Sh4 million allocated in the Supplementary Budget was distributed in a discriminatory manner noting that only six out of 33 MCAs were invited by the governor for the flag off ceremony.
“The budget implementation is being used as a political tool,” he said adding that Covid-19 was a serious threat to the Kirinyaga County residents therefore needed adequate measures to minimise its effects.
The Assembly, which was chaired by the Speaker Anthony Gathumbi resolved that the Ad-Hoc Committee will be in place as long as the country is dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic and that it will oversight the County Inter-Agency Covid-19 Response Committee.
By Irungu Mwangi
