STOP PRESS: Budget reading for local authorities

In a historic first, major local authorities led by the Nairobi City Council read their annual budgets to the Kenyan public on Thursday 28th June 2007. In a major departure from the past, various chairmen of the local authorities finance committees read out planned budgetary activities for the financial year 2007-08. Other towns that did the same included Nakuru, Kisumu, Naivasha and Mombasa. In Nairobi, Councillor Mutunga Mutungi of Mbotela ward (Makadara Constituency) read out the largest of the budgets, set at over 8.3 Billion shillings.

This is a first step in the journey to transparency which Kenyans have been yearning for. It's now up to the voters to scrutinise how these funds will be spent, while ensuring they elect local representatives who are keen in using these funds for the benefit of the voters. I welcome your comments and insights on this historic occurence in our local authorities.

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CORRECTIONS - 3rd August 2007.

1. I've recently learnt that the Kisumu Municipal Council did not after all, present its inaugural budget reading on the 28/06/07.
2. The Nairobi City Council actually approved a budget of Sh6.083 billion against an expenditure of Sh6.081 billion, and not Ksh 8.3 billion as earlier indicated.

I apologise for these errors.