With an annual kitty of Sh12 billion, the powerful National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee is now at the centre of focus with nearly all MPs in the 349-member House jostling to become members.
MPs who are part of the 21-member committee are well-positioned to push for development projects of their choice in their constituencies during the budget-making process.
It is no wonder that sitting and past chairpersons of the committee often face a barrage of accusations over how money is utilised.
Immediate former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, who is now the Public Service Cabinet Secretary, revealed to Sunday Nation how he helped reform the kitty to ensure “all corners of the country benefit.”
The Budget and Appropriations Committee was previously allocated Sh3 billion every year for public participation and development projects in constituencies during the budget making cycle.
Last week, on March 11, the immediate former chairperson of the committee, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, came under fire when National Assembly Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu MP) and National Assembly Leader of Minority Junet Mohamed (Suna East) accused him of abuse power for channelling resources to his constituency.
“Members have vested interests. They allocate funds for projects in their own constituencies and counties, far from what was agreed during the public participation process,” said Mr Ichung’wah, who was the chairperson of the committee during the 12th Parliament, but was unceremoniously ejected.
“This House will not sit back and watch as members of the Budget and Appropriations Committee use that position to appropriate money to their constituencies at the expense of other Kenyans,” he added.
Mr Ichung’wah spoke after Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba complained in the House that Vihiga County had been left out of the budget hearing meetings despite being selected.
“A guillotine was placed on public participation that disadvantaged Vihiga and other counties. Money was genuinely allocated for public participation but it is not known where the additional money went,” Mr Milemba said.
The politics of the National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee is the reason why Mr Nyoro was removed as the budget committee chairperson on Wednesday and replaced by Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi.
Before the kitty came into operation in the 11th Parliament, the House had Cabinet ministers who were also MPs. Ordinarily, resource allocation was to start with ministers first, a thing that former Speaker Muturi disagreed with.
“I was in the 9th Parliament as a backbencher, but I outdid so many ministers in pushing for resources for my constituency,” said Mr Muturi, who is also a former Siakago MP. “It was all about lobbying for resources not the flag on one’s official car then.”
Suna East MP Mohamed said: “It has reached a level where the Budget and Appropriations Committee members are visiting the constituency of the chairman for benchmarking because of the advantageous position he had to channel projects in his area using the kitty as other areas are left out.”
“Let us be honest with Kenyans and tell them the truth. He was sitting in an advantageous position of chairing that powerful committee of the House where he could skew allocation of resources to his constituency.”
The kitty started operating during the 11th Parliament when then Mbeere North MP Mutava Musyimi was committee chair.
CS Muturi said that at the time, the committee had 51 members and each one of them would be allocated Sh60 million a year, under the guise of public participation in budget making to undertake projects in their constituencies.
“The money would be allocated to all the 51 members in the committee to undertake development projects in their constituencies. When I came to learn about it, I pushed for changes to ensure that everyone benefits,” he said.
With the Muturi reforms, the Pork barrel model was adopted to ensure equality in distribution of the Budget and Appropriations Committee kitty.
Pork barrel is used in reference to the utilisation of government funds for projects designed to appeal to the voters or MPs and in the process win the trust of the people.
Mr Muturi said that he got to know about the Budget and Appropriations Committee billions when he went to visit Eldama Ravine Constituency on the invitation of the then area MP and Budget and Appropriations Committee vice chairperson ,Moses Lessonet.
“I had been invited for a function by Mr Lessonet who told me to announce that Sh20 million had been allocated for the construction of a school in the area. I asked him where the money will come from and he told me to call then Education Principal Secretary for confirmation,” he said.
Mr Muturi said that then Budget and Appropriations Committee members Priscillah Nyokabi (former Nyeri Woman Representative) and Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga) had accompanied Mr Lessonet.
“That’s when I discovered that each member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee had been allocated Sh60 million. I felt it was unfair to the members who are not in the committee. So I pushed for the matter to be raised on the floor,” he said.
The CS said he approached then Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo (now deceased), “who was my personal friend as we had served together in the 9th Parliament” to have the matter raised on the floor of the House, and he agreed.
“There is Sh3 billion that the committee has allocated for the so-called budget hearings,” Mr Midiwo said on a point of order after Mr Musyimi had tabled the report on the 2015 Budget Policy Statement. But Mr Musyimi said it was just a report.
CS Muturi said it is not Mr Nyoro who appropriated the figures that the MPs are complaining about. He said MPs should seek advice from the Parliamentary Budget Office.
It is not Mr Nyoro who appropriated the figures they are complaining about. It is the House, including them. If anything, they are properly resourced,” said the former Speaker, adding that the MPs have at their disposal the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) to advise them, the research team among others.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro.
Photo credit: File| Nation Media Group
“Therefore, you cannot accuse BAC members when you are there. Scrutinize the figures because it is the reason you are there.”
True to CS Muturi’s words, on May 27, 2015, Midiwo raised the matter on the floor of the House.
“There is Sh3 billion that the committee has allocated for the so-called budget hearings,” Midiwo, on a point of order, said moments after Mr Musyimi had tabled the BAC report on the 2015 BPS.
“We are looking through this report with a tooth comb. They think that we do not know. However, we know that money is here through other votes. It is hidden for 15 counties. We are bringing down our country. This is a rogue committee of parliament,” said Midiwo.
However, Mr Musyimi countered Midiwo saying; “this is just a report.”
“Wait for the Appropriations Bill. It is when it comes to the Appropriations Bill - and let me help you - that you can then have the opportunity to do your surgery,” said Mr Musyimi.
“Go to the numbers and then track the members of the Budget and Appropriations Committee in what they have got using the guise of public hearings. Then table the matter here. We must act in good faith. It is absolutely fundamental,” he said.
