NAIROBI: In a bold, though belated move, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich announced austerity measures aimed at cutting wastage in Government spending on Wednesday this week, while launching public participation in the next budget-making process.
A similar move was undertaken by retired President Mwai Kibaki’s administration some years back when it banned the use of vehicles whose engine capacity exceeded 3000cc by Government officials, including his ministers. Though well-intentioned, there wasn’t much follow up and after only a few months of lying low, the fuel guzzlers bearing Government registration number plates could be seen back on the roads.
The current government’s emphasis seems to be on curbing expenditure on foreign and local travel that has clearly spun out of control and adversely affected service delivery both at the national and county government levels.
County funds earned for recurrent and development expenditure have often been diverted to financing unnecessary bench-marking workshops and tours for members of county assemblies, who have developed a penchant for Mombasa and Dubai among other destinations abroad.
The move comes after the Controller of Budget and the Commission for Revenue Allocation recommended similar action in efforts to control expenditure. House Speaker Justin Muturi attempted to control foreign travel among Members of Parliament, but it is doubtful that the legislators complied with his order. Across the border in Tanzania, new President John Magufuli’s first order of business was to ban foreign travel as a way of cutting down expenditure.
Kenya’s economy has been rocked by external forces beyond its control and corruption. This has compelled the National Treasury to revise projected levels of economic growth downwards twice in two months. While the initial projection stood at 7 per cent per annum, it has been revised downwards to 5.8 per cent. The Opposition has pointed out that the country’s economy is ailing, but the President has reassured Kenyans all is well.
The move to control spending may signal all is not well after all. Public officials spent Sh20 billion on international travel in the last financial year.
The national government spent Sh10.8 billion, county governments Sh9.2 billion and Members of Parliament spent Sh4.2 billion. The Foreign ministry spent Sh1.7 billion, while the Office of the President spent Sh600 million in the last financial year.
Under the guise of bench-marking, public officials, Members of Parliament, parastatal heads and members of county assemblies have found an easy way of pilfering public funds. They pay themselves large sums of money in travelling and sitting allowances.
But while the real challenge will be in implementing and enforcing the ban, there are other avenues that could be exploited in further reducing wastage in public offices. There is duplication of work in some ministries and departments.
The recent merger of some parastatals in a move to reduce their numbers and overall expenditure should be applied across the board to include departments and ministries that simply duplicate work. Some people have questioned, for instance, the necessity of having a Senate and a National Assembly that duplicate and constantly fight over roles.
Plans to trim the civil service must go on even as senior officials, including legislators are prevailed upon to take salary cuts.
The fleet of vehicles in operation at the national and county government level needs to be reduced and expenditure on fuel and maintenance controlled. Declarations alone will not work; strict enforcement is necessary for success.
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