By Lorna Abuga

Members of the Nakuru County Assembly (MCA’s) met Governor Kinuthia Mbugua on Thursday over sh500 million that the county has set aside to mitigate effects the El-nino rains.

During the Mashujaa Day celebrations, the Governor announced that the county government had budgeted to use the funds in various areas that the county had identified as hot spots should the rains fall as forecasted by the country’s weather man.

But a section of the MCA’s were not amused by the announcement with was also read by County Ward Administrators in various sub counties. This prompted Visoi Ward MCA Gitau Kamau to bring a notice of motion to the house asking the governor to appear before the house to explain the budget.

While presenting the motion the MCA alleged that the county government had sidelined them in the plans for the Elnino rains.

“We (MCA’s) were subjected to public ridicule on Mashujaa day when members of the public started accusing us for misusing the funds set for the disaster yet there were no ongoing projects meant to mitigate the effects of the rains.”

He told the house that while the public wanted them to give a breakdown of the funds they knew nothing about the funds.

“How can we give an account of funds which were not approved by the county assembly?”

he asked while claiming that already some members of his ward had been affected by the rains.

While delivering his Mashujaa Day speech governor Mbugua had stressed that the county was targeting areas that are historically known as high risk areas for mudslides among others.

“In some urban areas in Nakuru county, storm water is a source of health hazard and these areas are being mapped and are monitored closely for rapid interventions. We are almost though with the enhancement of drainage,”

he said. However MCA’s insisted that they were not aware of the existence of the funds with Beatrice Nyawira a nominated MCA faulting the executive for leaving out on the issue that she termed as a public interest issue.

“The ward administrators should not be allowed to mascaraed and play our roles yet we were duly elected by the public,” she said.

The MCA’s also blamed Kinuthia’s government of not involving them in the planning of a recent event that targeted the youth.

“The assembly did not approve the money that was used for the youth week and most of us were unable to give an account to the youth from our respective wards because we lacked information pertaining the function. We have turned out to be a laughing stock because the public are beginning to dismiss us since when they pose questions to us we are unable to respond to appropriately,” added Nyawira.

Irene Paul, a nominated MCA told Kenya Monitor that they met with the governor on Thursday

“but he had not been summoned.”

“We agreed to form a committee to look into the issues,” she added.