The County Assembly of Busia transferred 14 functions to Busia and Malaba Municipalities.
The Transferred functions were domiciled in Lands and Housing, Infrastructure and Energy, Water, Irrigation, Environment and Natural Resources.
Members unanimously approved the motion moved by Burumba Ward Member of the County Assembly, Moses Ochieng. This implied that the Municipality Board and Manager now have the powers to run the affairs of the Municipality.
With reference to article 176 (2), 184 and 209(3) of the Constitution of Kenya as read together with sections 20 and 32 (2) of the Urban Areas and Cities Act and Municipality, the functions of collecting land rates, solid waste management, building approvals, street lights, water and sanitation and billboards.
The other functions include advertisement revenue, trade revenue, trade fees, cess, market management, clean water supply, road works and sewerage management,
The Deputy Speaker, Lawrence Okaale directed the motion to be forwarded to the Department of Lands, Finance and the County Secretary. The motion will also be committed to the Implementation Committee for follow up.
Ochieng said the move to transfer the functions to the municipality was in line with Urban Areas and Cities Act of 2011 and to remove misunderstandings among line departments over some functions.
Busia Municipality Manager, Mr Ken Nabulindo thanked the mover of the motion and other MCAs for unanimously supporting it.
“This will now give the two municipalities’ powers to serve county residents with zeal and to support the government of Sospeter Ojaamong in realising his legacy and to boost revenue collection,” he added.
By Absalom Namwalo
