Former Mandera Senator Billow Kerow has claimed that the Treasury gave the National Assembly Budget Committee Ksh.3 billion bribe to approve a few financial bills.
While speaking on Thursday, September 22 during the senators’ induction retreat in Naivasha Kerow intimated that the matter raised questions about the integrity of the Treasury and how the implementation of the budget is conducted.
Moreover, Kerow noted that the matter showed lack of independence in the Budget Committee and posed concerns about the ethics behind the process of budget allocation.
“In 2015, the Treasury, which always works in coalition with the National Assembly provided a bribe, and I’ll use that because it was a headline in the local media at that time. The parliamentary committee for budget and appropriations were given Ksh.3 billion so that they can approve some things and we spent a whole afternoon in Senate discussing how could National Assembly accept to be bribed,” he said.
“That shows you the degree at which the Treasury sometimes go to try and influence the legislature in the same way that county governors will try and influence the county assembly so that they can get a few things included.” He added.
Furthermore, Kerow cited that the lack of transparency in the formation of the national budget has been a wrecking impediment.
Also Read: Induction Retreat for Senators
He also proposed that the process should be conducted with scrutiny for accountability of funds.
“Budget transparency is very important, and I think it is a matter that I think we should always focus on because items should be itemized and be very clear, and that is what the principles the Public Service Management Act provides.” Kerow stated.