KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF A CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME FOR MUNICIPAL BOARD MEMBERS – DAY 2

Senior Government officers led by the CECM for Lands, Housing, Urban Areas and Physical Planning Hon. Robert Makhanu met on Tuesday for a second day training on Urban Governance and Management.

The day’s training was opened by the County Secretary and Head of Public Service Madam Jacinta Aluoch Odhiambo and closed by Finance, Planning and ICT CECM Dr. Beatrice Sabana, on behalf of H.E the Governor DR. FCPA Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, saw the following come to light;

✓Governor Oparanya envisioned that Kakamega and Mumias municipalities operate autonomously
✓ For Kakamega County to realize a sustainable growth of her urban centres, partnership with World Bank and other partners has to be strengthened
✓ Heightened visibility of urban centres through the Departments of Tourism and Investment promotion will attract more development partnerships
✓Kakamega and Mumias municipalities should mirror sustainable urban centres through provision of enhanced health care, improved road network and a good education system among other social amenities
✓Department of Urban Areas challenged to do a proper spatial plan of other fast rising towns in the County such as Butere and Malava
✓Departments should pull efforts together to ensure a seamless working system for the benefit of wananchi
✓Municipality boards will be mandated to collect revenue within their jurisdiction
✓Revenue clerks within municipalities to be supervised by the boards
✓The Ministry of Finance, Planning and ICT has set up a contract management unit within the Procurement unit to guide on proper implementation of contracts
✓A financial records registry to be set up for tracking of vouchers to enhance financial management

Chairman County Assembly Committee of Lands, Housing, Urban Areas and Physical Planning Hon. Kenneth Indusa and other committee members (MCAs) attended the training.

Also in attendance were Chief Officer for Lands Eng. Patrick Likavo and his counterpart at the Finance docket CPA Amb. James Ochami, Chairmen of Kakamega and Mumias Municipalities Boards Rtd. Col. Job Akhulia and Mr. Sammy Obingo respectively and the respective Town Managers, Lurambi Sub-County Administrator Mr. Juma Omwendo and his outgoing Mumias West counterpart Mr. Hillary Angoche, who now moves to Likuyani, among other senior Government officers.