New committee to summon governors over county funds

By Moses Njagih

Nairobi, Kenya: The Senate is seeking to deepen its oversight role over the counties by setting up a Public Accounts and Investment Committee to monitor use of funds by governors.

This sets the stage for governors to be summoned by senators to explain use of cash in various projects and their viability.

The move will open a new battleground between the Senate and the county executives, after the two sides locked horns recently over a Bill that seeks to set up county Development Boards in the counties to be chaired by senators.

Currently, the Senate’s oversight role is restricted to the Finance Committee.The membership of the new committee was approved last week by the House, when the Senate reconstituted its sessional committees and re-organised standing bodies that were split due to their large mandate.

The formation of the watchdog committee, which will play similar roles to those played by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Public Investment Committee (PIC) of the National Assembly, albeit at the county level, comes following the amendments to the Senate’s Standing Orders.

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Among those to sit in the committee are Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, who was the chairman of the PAC committee during the tenth Parliament, and who also chaired the special Senate committee, that recommended the impeachment of Embu Governor Martin Wambora.

By last week, only Khalwale had expressed interest in chairing the powerful committee.

 Others are Senators John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot), Anyang Nyong’o (Kisumu), Martha Wangari (nominated), Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Amos Wako (Busia), Hassan Omar (Mombasa), George Khaniri (Vihiga), Muriuki Karue (Nyandarua) and Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu).

“This is a crucial committee for this House, especially given the oversight responsibility placed on it. We will be sitting anytime next week to elect the chairman and hit the ground running,” said Wamatangi, who is also eyeing to chair the newly created Transport committee.

Pushing for the adoption of the membership of the committees, Majority Leader urged senators to expedite the process so that the committees can start their duties.

“There is so much pending work, some which needs urgent attention, but which has been held by the fact that these committees have not been constituted. I plead that we pass these names and then we can look at other anomalies, when the committees are working,” said Kindiki.