Foreign Affairs secretary Amina Mohammed speaks at an event held to
explain Kenya’s economic diplomacy and its outcomes in Nairobi August
27. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE
itics and policy
By Lynet Igadwah
In Summary
The row over the 2014/15 expenditure ceilings for
counties took a new twist yesterday after assembly members said they
were headed to the courts.
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At a meeting in Nairobi under their national lobby, the
County Assemblies Forum, the officials said they would not comply with
the caps set in a circular issued by the Commission on Revenue
Allocation last month.
The CRA chairman Micah Cheserem had recommended
spending caps on allowances, citing wastage of public funds. The CRA’s
ceilings have received backing of the Controller of Budget, the
Auditor-General, and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
“We are moving to court to seek interpretation on a
circular by the CRA regarding ceiling of budgets,” said Abdi Nuh
Nassir, the chair.
The county lawmakers said they opted for the courts
after it emerged that the Senate was a longer route and would delay the
release of their July salaries. Dr Nassir said attempts to engage the
Senate had been met with bureaucracy, which was time-consuming.
“We were told to write a letter to the Senate which
we already did, meaning that if they summon us on the budget ceiling
matter, we will oblige,” he said.
Jimmy Kahindi, the Kilifi County speaker, claimed
SRC, the Budget chief and CRA were being used to undermine devolution,
adding that budgeting was a legal question that had no place at
political rallies.
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