Assembly lauded for its neat reconciliation of receipts, journals and vouchers to support the use of public funds
By A CORRESPONDENT
The Kajiado County Assembly has been given a clean bill of health on financial utilisation for the financial years 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 expenditures.
The Assembly’s top management appeared before the joint Senate’s Public Investments Committee and Public Accounts Committee, which was satisfied with the Assembly’s accounts.
The Senate Committee approved the documentation and accountability in expenditure for the Assembly’s allocations totalling Ksh704,967,233 for the 2017/18 fiscal year, and Ksh752,003, 490 for the year 2018/19.
In his remarks, the Senate PIC/PAC Vice Chair and Marsabit Senator Hargura Godana expressed his satisfaction with the Auditor General’s report detailing the County Assembly expenditure in both financial years as prudent and professional.
“It is worth to note that the management and utilization of public funds in Kajiado County Assembly is commendable. They have produced all the necessary receipts and documentation of all queries that were raised by the Auditor General. Most importantly, this Assembly is among few that don’t pay the contractors before producing certificates of completion of the projects. This blocks loss of funds,” Sen Godana said.
Bomet Senator Christopher Langat lauded the Assembly for its neat reconciliation of receipts, journals and vouchers to support the use of public funds.
“In most cases, we have been forced to use sermons or the police for other legislative bodies to appear before us and defend their financial expenditure since we are the constitutional oversight body of the counties,” said Langat. He called on other Assemblies to emulate Kajiado, saying it was encouraging to see that the Assembly honours its commitment to clear pending bills on time.
Kajiado County Assembly Speaker Johnson Osoi said that the 47 legislative bodies require financial autonomy from the executive arm to ensure that the spirit of independence and separation of powers between the Assemblies and Executive is achieved.
“In some County Assemblies, our requisitions are not honoured due to political affiliations or inefficiency in the executive, leading to a huge imbalance of pending Bills. It is important that the Senate consult and develop a mechanism to ensure financial autonomy of the County Assemblies to achieve the definite spirit of devolution as well as to instil accountability to the executive through effective oversight and representation.
Kajiado Assembly Clerk Leboo Saisa said that the Assembly had embarked on providing relevant training to its human resources, formation of a Corruption Prevention Committee, and use of Corruption Integrity officers to seal loopholes that may lead to the pilferage of public funds.
