Vihiga will spend Sh103 million to build a palatial home for its
governor, Wilbur Ottichilo, reflecting the counties' appetite for
lavish spending as they struggle to fund projects.
Dr
Ottichilo on Thursday launched construction of his official residence in
the race to beat the June 30 deadline when house allowances for
governors, their deputies and the assembly Speakers will be scrapped.
Vihiga
also kicked off the construction of the deputy governor’s home for Sh55
million, pushing the homes construction budget to Sh158 million.
The
Sh158 million is more than the Sh153 million that Vihiga expects to
raise from its own sources like business permits, parking fees and land
rates.
The governor’s lavish home will cost Sh80
million while the two-acre land that it seats on will cost taxpayers
Sh23.9 million—a deal that the Auditor General say was overpriced.
Dr Ottichilo asked the contractor, Mr Judas Ekero, to speed up the work to enable the houses be ready by June 30.
A
circular by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) notes that
governors, their deputies and assembly speakers will lose house
allowances from June 30. The circular requires that official residences
of the three top officers be ready by mid-year.
"From
July 1, the governors, their deputies and Speakers will not have house
allowances,” said Dr Ottichilo. "We will not have a place to live and
sleep from July 1. The contractor should work day and night to ensure
that I settle into the house on July 1."
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