Senate to receive Sh322 million for county oversight role

Senate will receive Sh332 million to oversight counties after intense deliberations with the National Treasury.

However, there is still a hurdle as the lawmakers will need the approval of the National Assembly through the Supplementary Budget to access the money.

Last year, the National Assembly denied senators the proposed Sh1 billion for oversight role and instead the allocation went to negotiated additional funding to counties, ending a one-month standoff on the Division of Revenue Bill 2015.

“PSC has lobbied National Treasury to allocate funds for monitoring and oversight in the counties.

We have agreed on Sh332 million prorated from the Sh1 billion sought by the Senate in the current budget,” Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye told senators in Mombasa at the ongoing leadership retreat.

Mr Nyegenye, who is also PSC secretary was however optimistic that the Sh1 billion sought by senators as recommended by the ad-hoc committee chaired by Senator Kiraitu Murungi (Meru) will be factored in the next budget.

“The fact that Sh1 billion oversight fund will be in the next financial year budget is not in dispute,” said the clerk.

The latest progress might excite the senators who bashed their colleagues in the National Assembly for denying them funding even as they registered their disappointment that the amount should have been released in full.

The lawmakers are in agreement that in discharging their legislative mandate, they must touch base with the electorate to ensure accountability through effective oversights.

Kitui Senator David Musila, who is also a PSC commissioner took issue with the stand taken by National Treasury over the issue, saying their appeal to have the money in full was rejected.

“We have been in talks for months and they declined to allocate the money requested. But at least we managed Sh332million,” said Musila. The funds will be for four months before the next financial year. The disputed fund is meant to facilitate senators at the counties, secure officers and staff to help monitor expenditures.