Govt departments, commissions seek extra funding

The permanent secretary, Justice Gichira Kibara (left) leaves a past meeting. He appeared before the Legal Affairs Committee to request additional funding June 4, 2013. FILE 

By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU 

 

 

Government departments and constitutional commissions marched to Parliament Tuesday to appeal to MPs to rework the national budget and increase the money allocated to them.

The Attorney General’s office and the Department of Justice through the permanent secretary Gichira Kibara appeared before the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee seeking money to ensure that the training of lawyers and management of cases in court had value to the taxpayers.

The Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung'u, also appeared before the committee and accused the 

Treasury of flouting the law, when it allocated Sh216 million for the political parties fund; whereas the law was clear that the amount should not be less than 0.3 per cent of the national revenues. As per the calculations, the Fund ought to have been given Sh3.1 billion.

The grouse of the State officers was that the officials at the Treasury had ignored their requests putting the crucial function of implementing the Constitution in jeopardy.

For instance, Dr Kibara said the Treasury had not allocated any money for the implementation of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation report, yet the law was clear that the recommendations ought to be implemented to ensure healing in the country.

Dr Kibara told the MPs in a committee meeting at Nairobi’s Parliament buildings that without the money, it will be impossible for the recommendations of the report to be implemented.

“If it has zero funding, it is as if somebody somewhere is trying to sabotage the report to make sure that whatever is mentioned in there does not ever get implemented,” said William Cheptumo (Baringo North, URP).

The Kenya Law Reform Commission –the body charged with drafting laws to give effect to the Constitution—also lamented that its plan to deliver services to the counties had also been defeated, after the Treasury ignored its request for Sh820 million to help county governments develop laws.

The Treasury gave the commission Sh100 million.

Joash Dache, the chief executive of the KLRC, said the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution was mistaken when it told MPs that they need to pass 23 laws by August 27 this year as per the constitutional timelines.

Mr Dache said only four bills were necessary, and the CIC tally of 23 was ill-informed.

The CIC too came before the commission seeking Sh157 million. The CIC said it had put in a request of Sh573 million to the Treasury but they had been allocated Sh399 million.

The CIC had a tough time trying to convince the MPs that it actually needed the money at a time when the commission spends a lot of money on advertisement and foreign travel.

The commission, according to its budget presented for scrutiny by the House team shows that CIC has spent a further Sh39 million in printing, advertising and information supplies and services and intends to spend Sh20 million in the financial year starting July 1.

MPs also tasked CIC vice chairman Elizabeth Muli and commissioner Kamotho Waiganjo to explain why $4.15 billion it received and which includes outstanding pledges from donors in the last financial year is held and managed by the UNDP on behalf of the commission.

Members of the committee chaired by Anaibkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga accused the commission of engaging in wasteful spending including the expenditure of Sh59 million in public advertising last year.