In light of Margaret Nyakang’o claim of financial irregularities within the government, Kacheliba Member of Parliament Titus Lotee has expressed doubts about her motivations.
Lotee expressed his skepticism in an interview that aired early on Citizen TV’s Daybreak program on Monday. He implied that Nyakang’o’s choice to reveal the National Treasury’s purported three-fold overspending on her salary—and consequently, the salaries of other State officers—may have been motivated by her personal interest in the issue.
Lotee went on to say that Nyakang’o’s administration ought to conduct thorough monitoring, carefully examining the budgets of each Ministry and County.
According to him, the Controller of Budget’s report is a crucial instrument for Parliament’s oversight duties, and if these disclosures weren’t obtained directly from her, it might mean that Parliament’s investigative powers are lacking.
Member of Parliament for Kathiani, Robert Mbui, contributed to the conversation by praising Nyakang’o for her bravery in exposing possible financial wrongdoing.
Mbui also conveyed his worries about Nyakang’o’s safety, recognizing that her disclosures could not sit well with some people, especially those connected to the Treasury.
Thinking back on his tenure as a second-term member of parliament in Kathiani, Mbui stressed that Parliament’s job is to examine the figures that the Treasury proposes, especially through the Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Although there is a propensity to take these numbers at face value, he said, the recent incidents underscore the necessity of conducting more thorough study and obtaining independent data in order to guarantee accurate budget proposals.
Nyakang’o claims
Tetu Member of Parliament Geoffrey Wandeto underlined that Nyakang’o’s disclosures are only claims, and more research is necessary to verify their veracity.
In order to improve accountability and transparency, he called on a number of investigative agencies, such as the Inspector of State Corporations, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and parliamentary committees, to look into the budgeting process.
This is in response to the Controller of Budget’s September review of county budgets for the fiscal year 2022–2023, which revealed that counties routinely spent more on payroll than was advised—41.5% of realized revenues went toward wages and benefits, compared to the recommended 35%.
Nyakang’o brought attention to the fact that just five counties—Turkana, Tana River, Mandera, Kwale, and Samburu—were able to comply with the 35% ceiling.
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