Kitui county assembly's powerful Public Investment and Accounts Committee has entered into a partnership with four organisations to enhance its oversight of budget spending.
During a one-day meeting at a Machakos hotel on Monday, Kitui Civil Society Network, National Democratic Institute, Kitui Caritas and the media, the organisations formed a front to buttress PIAC’s role in putting the county administration on check for prudent spending of finances.
Committee members, led by their chairperson Gabriel Munyao, welcomed the partnership, saying it was for prudent use of public resources for Kitui residents.
“As a committee, we have through training by Caritas and NDI received invaluable insights to effectively play our oversight role to ensure the residents of Kitui get value for money for development projects undertaken,” Munyao said.
“The misplaced general perception across the country that PIAC members are against their respective county executives should be dropped. The true position is that PIACs are crucial in over-sighting budget spending to check excesses by the executives,” Nguni MCA Jeremiah Mutua and committee member said.
He added that the members only seek answers to irregular budget spending flagged by the Auditor General to establish whether public funds have been lost and push for payback by officers responsible.
“Those found to have fiddled with funds are made to return the money. We are neither opposition or engaged in any political witch-hunt against anyone. Our role is provided for in the law. Recovered funds help the wananchi in doing viable projects,” he said.
Another committee member, Muthengi Ndangara, stressed that their role was to make sure the county government spends money prudently to ensure residents get the desired services and development.
“Our ultimate goal is to shine the spotlight on the county government so that it effectively fulfills it mandate and responsibility for the benefit of the public,” Kitui Caritas director Florence Ndeti said.
She said irregularities flagged by the Controller of Budget and Auditor General should not be repeated and members of the public should be made aware about the contents of the dossiers.
