The High Court has stopped the Controller of Budget from releasing funds to pay pending bills in Wajir County.
This is due to a dispute over who is the legitimate Governor to approve the Ksh2 billion payments owed to contractors and suppliers.
An interim order on was issued on Monday, September 20, after being informed that impeached Governor Mohamed Abdi and new county boss Ahmed Ali Muktar were actively in office.
“Following the two conflicting centres of power at the devolved unit, there is a confusion on payment of the pending bills amounting to Ksh2 billion. I therefore issue an interim order that bars payment of the debts and the same shall remain in force until a petition filed by three residents of Wajir county is determined,” Mrima ruled.
The judge highlighted that the interim order is intended to balance interests of both the county government and the unpaid contractors and suppliers.
However, the judge declined to stop the execution of the budgetary estimates for development projects as urged by the petitioners.
"It will be imprudent to stop the entire development budget for 2021/22 financial year. This will have adverse effects on the operations of the county government. The contestation relates to how pending bills are being paid," the judge added.
The judge added that the Controller of Budget had agreed that the budget could be partially stayed.
On Tuesday, September 7, the impeached Governor returned to office on the strength of a court order that he claimed had suspended the impeachment and reinstated him to power
In the past week, the Abdi stormed the County Government Headquarters in a motor vehicle with the official registration number plates where he stated that he would continue to be the Governor until 2022 when his five-year term ends.
Muktar was sworn in May after the Senate confirmed the impeachment of his boss over gross violation of the Constitution.
Condemning the act by the impeached governor to storm in back to the offices, the newly sworn-in county boss noted that his government would not tolerate acts of indecency, unlawful take over and irresponsible assembling that compromises the security of the County Headquarters.
