Editorial articles
Clear the roadblocks the way of the budget controller
Friday, September 2, 2022
Budget Officer Margaret Nyakang’o. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NMG
If Kenya hopes to curb the theft of public funds by government officials, all agencies must work together and cut unnecessary red tape.
Turf wars like the one reported between the Office of the Controller of Budget (COB) and the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) over access to county government accounts should be discouraged.
The two agencies serve Kenyans and neither should make the other’s job harder.
The Senate of the 12th Parliament rejected the rules that would have forced the Ministry of Finance and the CBK to give the COB access to monitor cash movements in and out of accounts.
The rules sought to close legal loopholes that counties use, for example, to make discriminatory payments to contractors in addition to filing fictitious claims.
But while the COB appears set to seek approval from the new Senate, the reported deterioration of relations over the issue between the two agencies is raising concerns.
Allowing COB access to bank accounts will give it a better view of cash flow from the consolidated fund, equalization fund, county revenue fund and all other public accounts.
It will ensure that accountants do not violate set ceilings for the use of public funds. It will also allow it to monitor balances accurately.
The COB’s mandate is to oversee the implementation of the national and county governments’ budgets by authorizing the withdrawal of public funds and advising Parliament on the transfer of funds to state bodies.
This could be done better if it had access to the national state and county accounts.