A showdown is looming between the Nakuru county assembly and persons with disability (PWD) over the amendment of laws and regulations that guide the management of the PWD fund.

A committee formed by the county executive has opposed the decision by the county Assembly Rules and Regulations committee to annul amendments on the regulations of the PWD Funds.

The approval of the amendments would enable the Controller of Budget to release the funds to the kitty. The PWDs are pushing for Sh 27 million.

Addressing the press in Nakuru town, Mr Fed Owako who is the chairman of the Nakuru County PWD Fund Regulations Amendment committee that was formed last year, accused the assembly committee of trying to amend the PWD Act of 2016 contrary to directions by the controller of budget

According to Mr Owako, the controller of budget stopped releasing the funds after raising concerns on a number of issues relating to the management and regulation of funds.

The PWD members successfully petitioned the county assembly to have the county executive form the committee which would spearhead the amendments of the regulations.

The committee was formed with its members appointed by the CEC in charge. It began its sittings last year and submitted its final draft of the amendments to the county executive in April.

The county, upon validating the draft, forwarded it to the County Assembly Rules and Regulations Committee for approval.

However, the committee despite inviting the amendment committee twice for hearings and interjections resolved to annul the entire amendments.

Mr Ambrose Lasoi the president of the PWDs in the county says the committee had been given the mandate to amend specific clauses of the regulations of 2015 in line with the directive by the Controller of Budget, but the MCAs decided to amend the PWD Act of 2016.

“The twist of change has brought a lot of hikes where the committee is dissatisfied and intends to seek redress from the court,” says Mr Lasoi.

The committee has now resolved to petition the County Assembly to block the house committee from amending the law through what they say is an illegal process.

He wondered why the MCAs who do not have the capacity to amend the law decided to do so while at the same time questioning their interest.

They vowed to reject any attempt to amend the disability act and instead push for the adoption of their draft of amendments.

According to Mr Lasoi release of the funds is dependent on the time the amendments will be done and satisfy the Controller of budget.

PWDs clash with county assembly over PWD fund regulations

Author Spotlight

Joseph Openda