Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o.
Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o now says operations at her office could grind to a halt, citing Sh850 million underfunding in the next financial year.
Dr Nyakang’o also raised concerns about government officers bypassing a system put in place to ensure accountability in the spending of taxpayers’ money.
She said despite automating the system and having it up and running, ministries, departments and agencies continue to make requisitions outside it, only using the system selectively.
Appearing before the Senate Finance and Budget Committee yesterday, she said the Sh704.25 million her office received in the current financial year is already depleted.
Dr Nyakang’o told the Mandera Senator Ali Roba-led team that her office is banking on the planned second supplementary budget to make it to the end of the fiscal year.
The Controller of Budget said key operations like monitoring and evaluation, report writing, training, budget implementation forums and local travel have no money.
“We have a lean budget and are only surviving because of keeping expenses at the bare minimum,” she said.
Dr Nyakang’o added that the situation could get worse in the next financial year as the government is only ready to allocate her office Sh777.5 million out of the Sh1.63 billion requested.
She said nine priority areas have been underfunded by Sh579.3 million.
“We have been allocated less than 50 per cent of what we asked. Achieving our targets will be tough,” Dr Nyakang’o told the committee.
“We, therefore, are seeking the intervention of the Senate for additional funding of at least Sh579.3 million. We are like a stalled vehicle without the money.”
Dr Nyakang’o said the office asked for Sh182.8 million for career progression but received nothing. The same fate befell Sh102 million for legislative proposals to strengthen the operations of her office.
The office also asked for Sh50 million for system automation but got nothing. It was the same case with Sh24 million for training and Sh15.3 million for foreign travel.
“Since becoming Controller of Budget six years ago, I have not travelled outside the country to learn best practices. My office has been experiencing high staff turnover, with seven workers leaving in the last six months due to poor pay,” she said.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and his Kisii colleague Richard Onyonka said they would push for more funding for the office.
“You have been asking for more funding for three years to no avail. We will give you the tools to make your office fight corruption,” Mr Onyonka said.
