Margaret Nyakang’o, the Controller of Budget, has raised concerns that her office is struggling to oversee national government projects due to financial constraints.
She told the Senate Committee on Finance and Budget that her office often cannot perform all its duties because of a lack of funds. She also revealed that her office is understaffed because there is no money to hire more staff.
Without enough funding, her office cannot effectively monitor how the national government implements its projects.
Nyakang’o emphasized that the budgetary provisions for the Controller of Budget in the 2025 budget policy statement will be crucial in ensuring proper monitoring and reporting on government policies.
She urged the committee to consider increasing the funds allocated to her office so that it can perform its full role.
She stated that in future years, additional funding will be needed to help the office play a bigger role in implementing government policies and agendas.
She also called on Senators to ensure that her office receives sufficient funds to carry out its responsibilities.
Despite the financial limitations, she assured the committee that her office would continue monitoring and reporting on county government projects using the funds available.
Her remarks come at a time when the national government has been criticized for relaunching old projects, especially highways, and presenting them as new developments.
In August 2024, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed defended the president, saying that William Ruto’s visits to different regions were part of his responsibilities as head of state.
He explained that these visits were meant to check the progress of government projects, launch new initiatives, and restart stalled ones.
The government insists that these efforts are aimed at improving the lives of Kenyans, but concerns remain over the transparency and effectiveness of these projects.
Nyakang’o’s statement raises questions about how well the government’s projects are being monitored.
If the Controller of Budget’s office is struggling due to a lack of funds, it means there is limited oversight on how public money is being spent.
This creates an opportunity for mismanagement and wastage of resources. Without proper monitoring, it is difficult to know whether the government’s projects are benefiting Kenyans or if they are simply being used for political showmanship.
The issue also highlights the broader problem of government priorities. While the president is busy launching and relaunching projects, key offices like that of the Controller of Budget are not being given the necessary resources to perform their duties.
This raises concerns about whether the government is truly committed to accountability and transparency. If the national government is serious about development, it should ensure that oversight institutions have the funds they need to track how public money is being used.
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