The Budget and Appropriations Committee chaired by Kieni MP Hon. Kanini Kega today met the Parliamentary Service Commission, led by Commissioner Hon. Adan Keynan (Representing the commission Chair, who is the Speaker of the National Assembly), and Clerk of the Senate Mr. Jeremiah Nyegenye who is also the secretary to the Commission, Clerk of the National Assembly Mr. Michael Sialai, and the Director General of the Parliamentary Joint Services Mr. Clement Nyandiere, to discuss the commission’s budget estimates for the 2021/2022 financial year.\
The three accounting officers (the two Clerks and the DG) presented their budget estimates to the Committee, with comprehensive explanations of every budget item highlighted. The proposed budget for the Parliamentary Service Commission for the financial year in reference, aims at ensuring smooth operations of the Legislature by ensuring the completion of development projects initiated by the commission in the next few months even as the country moves towards the next general election.
The Committee, in its meeting with the office of the Auditor General, took the Auditor General Nancy Gathungu to task, to explain and defend the request by her office for an allocation of 0.5% of the National budget for the next financial year to them. The office of the Auditor General has sought a budget allocation of Kshs. 8.3 Billion, but has been allocated Kshs. 5.8 Billion, of which 5.6 Billion is meant for recurrent expenditure and Kshs 200 Million allocated for development expenditure.
Citing the fact that the office of the Auditor General barely met the targets for the last financial year despite spending most of the funds allocated, the committee questioned the auditor’s request for more funds. In justification for their request, Ms Gathungu highlighted the various gaps in their expenditure, stating as an example the fact that the office has been leasing vehicles for the last couple of years at a total cost of over 160 million shillings, and are now seeking a total 128.5 million shillings to buy 15 vehicles.
This is a move that the auditor general is convinced will highly cut down the recurrent expenditure of the office. In seeking an additional allocation of Kshs 800 million to their development budget, the Auditor General apprised the committee on their continuous plans to devolve their services at more affordable costs by building their own premises, as opposed to leasing and renting which has also proved to be more expensive.
The Committee is set to meet the Chairpersons of the Departmental Committees tomorrow, who are also expected to submit their reports on the budget estimates for the financial year 2021/2022.
