Governors protest over directives by Treasury, agencies

Governors have complained about the pressure piled on them to implement directives issued to them by constitutional organisations.

The county bosses on Tuesday said the circulars, which affect employees, are burdensome owing to the strict deadlines given.

Council of Governors Chairman Peter Munya and Mr Wycliffe Oparanya, who chairs the Finance Committee, said circulars from the National Treasury, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and the Commission on Revenue Allocation were among those issued without their consultation.

Mr Munya accused the commissions of “giving the notices haphazardly” and forcing counties to implement them in a hurry, a trend he said was unconstitutional.

“The salaries team must dialogue with counties on issues of salaries and allowances. Where circulars are issued, counties must be given ample time to implement them,” he said in a statement.

The governors said the directives on e-procurement, car loans and mortgages, and allowances for public servants were some of those issued before talks with regional governments.

Mr Oparanya said the notices often come as a surprise, which disorients counties.

He added that it was becoming difficult for devolved units to follow the recommendations.

“The delivery of most of these directives usually leaves a lot to be desired. Counties are left rushing against time to implement them. This is particularly so with the e-procurement one issued by the National Treasury,” Mr Oparanya told the Nation by the phone Tuesday.

LOOPHOLES

The National Treasury last month issued a directive requiring counties to begin online procurement to seal corruption loopholes.

The salaries team and the revenue allocation commission were created by the Constitution. Drafters of the supreme law hoped these commissions would streamline and improve relations and services at both levels of government.

While the salaries team deals with the harmonisation of salaries of public servants, the revenue commission is responsible for allocating cash to the two levels of government.

In June, the Union of Kenya Civil Servants sued the salaries team for giving circulars on allowances and car loans and mortgages without involving the county and national governments.
Setting allowances

The union accused the commission of “unlawfully” setting allowances and benefits for civil servants in county and national governments.

Early this year, staff of the Migori County Government threatened to stage a strike following an order by the commission that allowances would be paid to workers based on their regions.

Salaries team chairperson Sarah Serem has, however, maintained that the commission’s responsibility was only to advise the county and national governments on remuneration of staff and the wage bill.

The remarks by the governors follow their criticism of a letter by the National Treasury calling for the use of online procurement in counties.