Senate set to audit ministries

Transition Authority Chair Kinuthia Wamwangi

Senate is set to begin auditing the budgets of ministries and other State departments in the next three weeks to ascertain how much of county resources are still held by the national government.

The stocktaking follows complaints by the county governments and Transition Authority (TA) that the national government and State corporations are withholding county resources.

“We will begin the audit in the next three weeks and it should take us no more than three months to complete,” said Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo/Marakwet), who also chairs the Devolution Committee.

“We will audit the budgets of all Government ministries that have transferred functions. This is a sensitive subject but we must do it,” he said.

He said the Senate was aware functions that were supposed to be transferred were still held by the national government.

Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka/ Nithi) said the senators want a breakdown of resources still held by national government and State corporations and functions that have not been devolved. “These functions should be transferred to counties as required by law,” said Prof Kindiki.

Senators Mutula Kilonzo Jnr (Makueni) and Anyang' Nyong'o (Kisumu) also demanded to know why TA has not cracked the whip the on ministries holding onto functions that are supposed to be devolved. “A lot of resources are still retained at the national level,” said Kilonzo Jnr.

“Why should Devolution ministry be heavily funded?” Prof Nyongo wondered.

TA Chairman Kinuthia Wamwangi said the body had not received any money from the National Treasury to facilitate transfer of functions that are supposed to be devolved and relies on donor funds.

"We requested for Sh280 million from the Government to carry out audit of assets and liabilities and this has not been forthcoming," said Wamwangi.

Kindiki said the Senate will intervene ensure the national government finances the authority to complete the pending tasks before its tenure elapses.