Senate seeks good ties for devolution
National
By
Patrick Beja
| Mar 27, 2023
The Senate will work with constitutional commissions and independent offices to ensure the timely disbursement of funds to the county governments and their protection.
Speaker Amason Kingi said it was important for the Senate to have a good working relationship with the Chapter 15 institutions to strengthen devolution.
He said close working relations with institutions that have a role in devolution would make it easier to allocate and disburse funds timely to the county governments, tame corruption and ensure Kenyans reap from devolution.
He spoke during a retreat with the commissions and independent offices at the Serena beach hotel in Mombasa county over the weekend.
The retreat was attended by senators and officials from the office of the auditor general, Controller of Budget, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Commission on Revenue Allocation and the office of the inspector general of police.
Kingi noted that the delay in the disbursement of funds to the counties hurt devolution and hence, the decision by the senate to consult with institutions that play a crucial role in devolution.
He also stated that the senate needs to work with institutions that help fight corruption so that funds allocated to the counties benefit the people at the grassroots.
"In their respective capacities, most of these institutions have a direct role in the implementation of devolution. They influence county budget-making processes by determining resource allocation parameters, authorise county disbursements, oversee prudent use of the allocated resources, entrench good governance, accountability and transparency, and enforce the observance of the rule of law by county governments," said Kingi.
Presents were AG Nancy Gathungu and Controller of Budget, Ms Margaret Nyakango, and others.
At the same time, Senate Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo used the forum to protest against his brutal arrest during last Monday's Azimio la Umoja One Kenya demonstrations in Nairobi.
"Kenya Kwanza has allowed dictatorship in the country. It has unleashed police to harass national leaders for no apparent reason," he argued.
Madzayo claimed police officers were not applying the law equally.
"My security was withdrawn on Thursday immediately after I was released from Kamiti prison. If anything happens to me, the government should be held responsible," he said.