Budget and Appropriations Committee apprised by the Controller of Budget on National Government’s budget implementation

Budget and Appropriations Committee apprised by the Controller of Budget on National Government’s budget implementation

𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲. 
𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟓𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓.

The Budget and Appropriations Committee, led by the Chairperson Hon. Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), held a meeting with the Deputy Controller of Budget (DCoB), Mr. Stephen Masha, to apprise the committee on the national government budget implementation for the first quarter of the Financial Year 2024/25.

During the meeting, Mr. Masha informed the Committee that the total expenditure for the national government for the first three months was Kshs. 823.50 billion, representing a 19% absorption rate, compared to 18% (Kshs. 784.19 billion), recorded in the same period during the Financial Year 2023/24.

The expenditure comprised Ministerial development expenditure totalling Kshs. 106.39 billion, Ministerial recurrent expenditure of Kshs. 358.50 billion and Consolidated Fund Services amounting to Kshs. 358.61 billion. 

Further, the national government's pending bills as of 30th September 2024, were Kshs. 528.36 billion, compared to Kshs. 516.27 billion reported on 30th June 2024 and 794.18 billion reported on 30th September 2023.

The pending bills comprised Kshs. 410.69 billion (78%) for State Corporations/State-owned and Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs), and Kshs. 117.67 billion (22%) for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). 

The Committee Members applauded the office of the Controller of Budget for the thorough execution of their mandate, with the Committee Chairperson further seeking the DCoB's view on the implementation of the budget so far, compared to the previous years. 

"What is your opinion in terms of this year's budget implementation, the overall vision that you have, and especially given that you have done it for many years, comparatively, how are we doing?" asked Hon. Nyoro. 

Mr. Masha observed that these two years have recorded an upward trajectory in revenues. 

"Looking at the figures in the first quarter performance for this financial year, in comparison with the previous year, the trend shows there's an upward trajectory on both revenues. The key challenge, as alluded to earlier, is the supplementary budget being zeroed out in some areas that have ongoing activities, and therefore, there may be a challenge as far as project implementation is concerned," he responded. 

Hon. Babu Owino (Embakasi East) sought to know the CoB's stand on the recent court ruling suspending a deal between the Controller of Budget and the Council of Governors (CoG) allowing county governments to continue issuing bursaries to institutions outside their scope.

"I would like you to comment on the diplomatic deal between your office and the Council of Governors, where the Council of Governors maintain that issuance of bursaries is a reserve of the Counties, while the courts made a decision just the other day that bursaries are a reserve of the national government, and your office still insist it's their reserve and the Constitution is also clear that provision of education is a national function. What is your stand on this?," asked Hon. Babu Owino. 

In response, the Deputy CoB affirmed his office's commitment to abide by the court ruling. 

"The bursary function is well stipulated under schedule 4 of the Constitution and as an office, we shall abide by the court ruling to ensure that we comply with what the court says," replied Mr. Masha.