State bodies want more cash allocation in upcoming year

Kenya: Various Government institutions, including independent commissions, inundated the Parliamentary Budget and Appropriations Committee with memoranda for increased funding ahead of the Budget reading on June 12.

The Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA), National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), The National Youth Council (NYC) and The Kenya Law Reform Commission are among those requesting for additional funding.

IPOA Chairman Macharia Njeru said they need an additional Sh214 million, adding that the Budget ceiling of Sh215 million allocated to them is grossly inadequate.

Maintain integrity

Macharia termed donor funding to the authority as “extremely dangerous”, saying donors would attempt to interfere with their impartiality.

“Donors can only come in capacity building but our operations should be funded fully by Kenya,” he said.

But the MPs challenged IPOA to be more proactive saying Kenyans hardly know their mandate.

Committee Chairman Mutava Musyimi maintained that donor funding was an option so long as the authority maintained its integrity.

NGEC Chairperson Winfred Lichuma complained that they are the least funded in comparison to other constitutional commissions and independent offices.

Kituo Cha Sheria in conjunction with Albinism Foundation of East Africa also requested additional funding for persons living with albinism, arguing that their numbers have increased over the years.

The civil society organisations also asked that funds for the procurement of sunscreen lotions for those living with albinism should not be channeled through the National Council for People with Disability.

“The Health ministry should procure, store and distribute sun screen lotions to persons living with albinism as they have the capacity, infrastructure and national outreach in place,” said Kituo Cha Sheria Programme Officer Waithaka Thuku.

The NYC also told the Committee that they were not allocated any funds in the last financial year.