Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo. Photo/FILE
By EDWIN MUTAI
In Summary
- Agnes Odhiambo says more than 41 per cent or Sh252 billion of recurrent expenditure (Sh611 billion) at the national level goes to paying salaries while 67 per cent or Sh111 billion of recurrent expenditure (Sh166 billion) in counties went to salaries.
- Nairobi, Homa Bay and Baringo counties topped the list of highest spenders on personnel emoluments while Siaya, Mandera and Isiolo were the least spenders.
- The Budget and Appropriations Committee resolved to develop guidelines for budget ceilings in ministries and departments before the next budget cycle.
The Controller of Budget wants Parliament to
urgently develop a policy on public sector wages in order to stop
personnel expenses eating into productive investments at the county and
national level.
Agnes Odhiambo says more than 41 per cent or Sh252
billion of recurrent expenditure (Sh611 billion) at the national level
goes to paying salaries while 67 per cent or Sh111 billion of recurrent
expenditure (Sh166 billion) in counties went to salaries.
“The amount of money going to meet salaries of
staff for both county and national government is significant and must be
reviewed if development is to be realised,” Ms Odhiambo said.
The Treasury allocated counties Sh210 billion for
meeting development and recurrent budget for this financial year, out of
which Sh10.72 billion went to paying salaries in the first quarter.
The Budget and Appropriations Committee chaired by Mutava Musyimi said the high cost of personnel was not sustainable.
Nairobi, Homa Bay and Baringo counties topped the
list of highest spenders on personnel emoluments while Siaya, Mandera
and Isiolo were the least spenders.
Nairobi County has allocated Sh10.4 billion or
59.2 per cent out of its annual recurrent budget of Sh17.6 billion)
billion for salaries while Siaya, with an annual recurrent expenditure
Sh2.8 billion, will spend Sh538.5 million (9.2 per cent) to meet staff
salaries.
MPs questioned the allocations of recurrent
budgets for the National Intelligence Service, Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission and the Commission for the Implementation of
the Constitution, which have no figures on personnel emoluments.
The committee also questioned the huge percentage
of allocations to salaries in the recurrent vote for the ministries of
Interior and Coordination of National Government (Sh756.2 million or 60
per cent), Ministry of Mining (Sh291.8 million), Parliamentary Service
Commission (Sh9.6 billion), Judicial Service Commission (Sh123 million),
IEBC (Sh2.1 billion) and Kenya National Commission on Human Rights
Sh100 million.
Other ministries or departments whose percentage
of personnel emoluments to recurrent budgets for the current financial
year exceeds 50 per cent are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, East
African, Tourism and Commerce, the Witness Protection Agency, Public
Service Commission, Salaries and Remuneration Commission, TSC (99.5 per
cent), Auditor General, Controller of Budget, Commission on
Administrative Justice and National Gender and Equality Commission.
The committee resolved to develop guidelines for budget ceilings in ministries and departments before the next budget cycle.
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