County chiefs warned over lavish spending

The Controller of Budget has warned that she will not approve any county budget which is not in line with the devolved functions.

Ms Agnes Odhiambo told the Senate’s Finance, Commerce and Economic Affairs Committee that some of the inclusions in the budget were illegal.

“Where counties have budgeted for functions which are in the domain of the national government, we will not approve. Some have budgeted for car grants, car loans and gratuities, yet this has not been cleared with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission. We will not approve,” said Ms Odhiambo.

She noted that the push and pull between the national and county governments on the devolution of some functions would make it difficult for her office to track their spending.

“We are going to have major accounting difficulties. So that we don’t expose ourselves to reconciliation issues, let’s have functions of counties in the national government. If we don’t do that, we shall lose money,” said Ms Odhiambo.

She asked the Transition Authority to send out circulars on the engine capacity of vehicles so that county spending is in line with the law.

She noted that the proposal for the national government to buy drugs and vaccines for the counties was among those that were likely to cause a reconciliation nightmare.

Economic Affairs Committee chairman Billow Kerrow had sought to know if the county budgets were aligned to the functions that should be transferred to the devolved units. “On what basis did they prepare the budgets if the functions had not been gazetted?” Mr Kerrow posed.

The Mandera Senator had also sought to know if the budgets had been made within the Medium Term Expenditure Framework.

Ms Odhiambo said her officers had noticed gaps in the capacity of county staff and the Transitional Authority had to step in to train the officials.