๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ก ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ก๐, ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐ก ๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐ฃ๐จ๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฆ ๐ง๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐ง ๐ข๐ ๐ฃ๐จ๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฆ ๐จ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ก๐๐๐
Sunday, February 25, 2024ย
The Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning, and Public Works, chaired by Hon. Johana Ng'eno (Emurua Dikirr), held a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Hon. Alice Wahome, and the Principal Secretary for Public Works, Mr. Joel Arumonyang, to discuss the 2024 Budget Policy Statement.
According to the submissions, the ceiling for the State Department for Public Works is Kshs.4.9 billion, which will be allocated towards improving 62 pedestrian access projects and footbridges.
In her submission, CS Wahome told the Committee that the State Department of Public Works is facing severe underfunding.
"We are grossly underfunded, and our development budget is extremely limited," said Hon. Wahome.
Members agreed with the CS and said that the State Department is substantially underfunded and suffers staff shortages, which they said is a major obstacle.
According to PS Arumonyang the State Department has only 450 officers serving the entire nation. However, he told the Committee that they were working towards expanding their workforce.
"The State Department is handicapped by chronic underfunding. How will you be able to oversee the numerous Government projects?" Vice Chairperson, Hon. Rindikiri Mugambi asked.
In response, CS Wahome appealed for increased allocations to establish County Public Works Offices.
"The creation of County Public Works Offices is crucial to strengthen our efforts in the Affordable Housing sector," CS Wahome said.