Kilifi county government device ways of bank loans to pay staff and bursaries as treasury funds disbursement delays continue

By Alloys Musyoka

Kilifi county government has devised ways of paying its staff through bank loans due to persistent national government delays to disburse funds to counties.

The move according to governor Gideon Mung’aro has helped in service delivery to citizens by county staff who are critical in dispensing devolution.

“We had to think outside the box to address the issue of staff salaries by engaging banks to offer loans that are paid once the national government disburses funds,” he said.

Mung’aro called on the national government to ensure county funds are available timely for effective service delivery to citizens.

“So far we have not received funds for July and August from the national government and programs must continue for service delivery,” he added.

He said they are also set to engage financial institutions to ensure school bursaries are paid in time alongside staff bursaries.

Speaking in Kwale during a five days’ consultative engagement forum with the Kilifi county executive committee members, chief officers and other key county leaders, Mung’aro said his administration is committed to serve Kilifi residents.

The primary objective of the forum was aimed to assess the performance of various departments and track the achievements of individual officers within departments.

Mung’aro has said that his administration has made steps in addressing major issues affecting locals in the area for the last two years in leadership.

Locals, he said, are getting water, health, water, education, agriculture and infrastructure services.

He said that for devolution to benefit locals, county staff must play their role to offer services as expected without fail.

“There are areas where we have noted that we have not done well and plan to improve, we also have areas where we have done so well,” he said.

On issues of health he said that the county has been emerging number 2 countrywide from 37 when he took over leadership in 2022.

“On leadership we are number 9 from number 41 when we took over and this should tell you that we are doing well,” he said.

On the issue of Nuclear plant, the governor said the county leadership’s stand remains against the option since the national government has failed in sensitizing locals and leaders in the area.

“What we have read about nuclear power is disaster and that is all we know, we can’t allow a nuclear program in our place,” he added.

On matters of development and employment Mung’aro said that his administration is committed to realization of the same through partnership with other organizations.

“Already we have established a cloth making Chinese company at Mtwapa where over 4000 people have been employed. And they are also planning to put up a go downs at Mariakani and employed 10,000 people,” he added

Mung’aro, who is set to sign an MOU with China chamber of commerce for 3000 industrial park a Kaya Fungo this week said the projects will help locals in the area.