Government should be on high alert. There seems to be wanton misappropriation of funds and other assets as the country transits to devolved government.
Some departments, State agencies, local authorities and other organisations, reeling from uncertainty, seems to be disposing off assets to amass wealth for certain individuals at the expense of Kenyans.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Transitional Authority, Commission of Implementation of the Constitution, Attorney General, PSs, Town Clerks, Departmental Heads and security agencies and other custodians of State assets, should rescue the country from grabbers.
Even civil society has warned that some local authorities were through irregular deals, hurriedly disposing of assets ahead of the transition to counties to line pockets of a few.
The National Taxpayers Association has also faulted the move by Treasury to release Sh10.1 billion to MPs days before Parliament is dissolved, terming the move ill-timed and designed to abuse prudent use of public resources.
Verify transfers
This follows the release of the funds by the Finance Ministry to the Constituencies Development Fund Board to enable MPs complete projects ahead of the March 4 General Election upon pressure from MPs.
They will be busy campaigning and could use the money to buy off voters. Past reports have captured many incidences in which outgoing MPs and their CDF teams have disagreed with the incoming teams on the exact amount of money on the account during the transition.
But the Transitional Authority, which holds the key to purchasing, acquiring, holding, charging or disposing of movable and immovable State property to ensure the successful transition to the devolved system of government seems to be out of the woods.
It should spell out the guidelines for the transfers. It needs to audit, verify the transfer to counties of assets and liabilities; staff; government and local authorities, and publish them.
The authority should also provide the criteria to determine transfer of functions to county governments, and previously shared assets, liabilities and staff of the government and local authorities.
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