Controller of Budget flags irregular Ksh.51B spending by Gov’t on vehicles, State House renovation
Controller of Budget Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o is questioning how the
government spent Ksh.51 billion in six months without approval from her office
and the National Assembly.
Dr. Nyakang’o, in her report on government spending over the first
half of this financial year, indicates that the government exploited a legal
loophole to spend more than the legally permissible additional funds.
The report shows that working under the cover of Article 223 of
the Constitution that allows ministries, departments and agencies to access
additional funding if the amount appropriated is insufficient or if a need has
arisen, the government used a whooping Ksh.51 billion over six months on
expenses, some of which were not emergencies.
Among the expenditures incurred under this provision are the
renovations at State House. The report shows that on the 23rd of October, State
House accessed Ksh.700 million for the construction of a modern presidential dais.
In July, Ksh.400 million was allocated to State House for the
purchase of motor vehicles.
In August, the State
department for the EAC was allocated Ksh.16.3 million for the purchase of
official motor vehicles.
Ksh.1.82 billion was used for the
stabilisation of petroleum pump prices for August and September; a further Ksh.2.4
billion went to the purchase of relief food and non-food items by the State
department of ASAL and regional development.
The Ministry of Defence accessed Ksh.200
million for support response to El Nino rains, while the State department for crop
and development was given Ksh.2.24 billion for the procurement of maize drying
and storage facilities.
Another Ksh.1.58 billion was approved by Treasury for the
renovation of the KICC ahead of last year’s Africa Climate Summit held there.
While the law allows the government to draw funds under article
223 provisions, the same law provides that the consent of Parliament should be
sought or obtained within two months of the withdrawal.
Only Ksh.3.29 billion of the total funds spent had the requisite
approvals.
The report also exposes the government’s priority in spending over
the same period. The exchequer disbursed
Ksh.1.4 trillion to various government departments, the lion’s share of the
amount Ksh.1.23 trillion went to recurrent expenditure, with Ksh.291 billion being
spent on personnel emolument. A paltry Ksh.70.41 billion was used by government
agencies for development.
The spending comes as the government’s Controller of Budget drew
attention to the growing public debt that at the close of 2023, stood at Ksh.11.14
trillion, exceeding the legal limit.
Dr. Nyakang’o is now asking the government to curb it’s appetite
for borrowing.
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