Who is to blame if security is left wanting, and why would the
Treasury cut security budget? Can that explain the present
security problem??? Would they blame foreign partners for not
honoring their trust and withdrawing their foreign citizenry
for lack of security, when in actual sense, funds for security
were already provided and was not properly and responsibly utilized?
Because the security is so bad, the Treasury has some explaining
to do people !!!
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
Treasury blamed for cutting security budget despite rising terror attacks
By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU
Updated Tuesday, May 20th 2014 at 00:14 GMT +3 Share this story: By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU
Kenya; Top security chiefs on Monday turned the heat on the National Treasury over Sh63.6 billion shortfall in their budget.
This comes at a time when security threats in the country are at an all-time high. The security chiefs said they had submitted a budget of Sh146.8 billion, but the National Treasury had cut it to Sh83.2 billion.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku, Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo and Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo trooped to Continental House and told MPs that efforts in fighting crime had floundered and the situation was likely to get worse because of budget cuts.
The trio at the helm of the country's security machinery said they put in requests for more money, but every time their budgets are submitted, the National Treasury reduces the allocations.
They said about 400 vehicles in the ministry are grounded.
See also: Accounting: A time-based profession that requires discipline
Lenku, Kimaiyo, plus Director of Immigration Jane Waikenda, together with the directors in charge of registration and disaster management, all complained that they are understaffed, underfunded and unlikely to deliver what they are expected to do.
"We badly need your intervention to see how we can fill this gap of gross underfunding," said Lenku.
Fuel cost cut
Lenku and Kimaiyo joined the Chief Finance Officer at the State Department of Interior in telling the House committee on Administration and National Security how the National Treasury had cut the money for fuel from Sh2.2 billion to Sh586 million.
The 290 sub-counties (constituencies) have an allocation of Sh97.6 million for fuel. "This translates to Sh921.20 per sub-county per day. At the prevailing average rate of Sh120 per litre of fuel, this amount can only provide seven litres per day for use by the deputy county commissioners and assistant county commissioners," the trio told the parliamentary committee.
They added that the allocation of Sh143 million to the divisional headquarters means that the 1,200 vehicles in the police posts, stations and divisions will have to make do with just two litres of fuel a day.
"This is grossly inadequate," the security bosses noted in their brief that is poised for the Budget and Appropriations Committee, which will have the final say on the budget.
Kimaiyo was angry that the National Treasury had reduced money that had been agreed in the Cabinet retreat in Nanyuki.
The National Authority for the Campaign against Drug Abuse —the body mandated to fight illicit alcohol —is also in the red.
Waikenda said she needed Sh700 million for tamper-proof passports, but her request was denied. She said she wanted to hire 600 new employees, but the National Treasury gave Sh50 million for 100 new staff.
She also said she wanted Sh150 million for a system to track foreigners, but the Treasury mandarins rejected the whole idea.
The MPs were livid. They in turn harassed the official of the National Treasury, senior assistant Director of Budget Kasembeli Nasiuma, and told him to explain why money was not available when the country is under siege.
See also: Accounting: A time-based profession that requires discipline
Within means
Nasiuma told the MPs that the budget resources were finite. "We must live within our means as a country. We cannot just print money. If in the wisdom of Parliament, our distribution of resources is not good enough, we'll be guided with the position that you (MPs) take, just as we have done before," said Nasiuma.
He reminded MPs that the budget-making process was now in the domain of the Legislature, and that the National Treasury's job was to bake the cake, and share it with the 47 county governments, the independent commissions, the Legislature, the Judiciary and the Executive.
"We'll be guided by members of the August House on how to rework the figures. Whatever you say will be final," Nasiuma told the MPs, as Lenku, Iringo and Kimaiyo looked on, shaking their heads.
Dalmas Otieno (Rongo) was rattled. "Parliament does not set the ceilings. You people at the National Treasury do. The security sector has been underfunded to a point where we now have a disaster."
--
Unapokea Email hizi kwa sababu umejiunga na Jukwaa la 'Mabadiliko'.
Kuchangia mada tuma kwenye Email hii: mabadilikotanzania@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at:
http://groups.google.com/group/mabadilikotanzania?hl=en?hl=en
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mabadiliko Forum" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to mabadilikotanzania+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to mabadilikotanzania@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/mabadilikotanzania.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mabadilikotanzania/1400542418.77854.YahooMailBasic%40web120101.mail.ne1.yahoo.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
0 Comments