Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 291366,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/291366/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 404,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "this House adopts the First Report of the Local Authorities and Funds Accounts Committee on the accounts of local authorities, countrywide projects done by the Urban Development Department (UDD) of the Ministry of Local Government and the accounts for the CDF for the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 financial years laid on the Table of the House on Thursday 14th October, 2010. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Committee commenced its Sittings on 24th June, 2009 and 63 sittings were held during the period ending October, 2010. The Sittings comprised the following activities:- (a) Induction workshop. (b) Evidence taking. (c) Inspection tours. (d) Stakeholders consultative fora. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Committee was expected to examine the accounts of the entire 175 local authorities from 2003/2004 Financial Year, the period when the Public Audit Act took effect, together with the accounts of other devolved funds such as the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), the Youth Enterprise Development Fund and the Women Development Fund, among others. However, most of the accounts of the councils and the funds had not been laid before the House and, therefore, were not ready to be examined at the time. Currently, accounts up to the year 2010/2011 Financial Year have been tabled in the House for examination and our Committee’s review. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Committee took evidence from the following during that period:- (a) The Urban Development Department (UDD) of the Ministry of Local Government. The Committee held extensive deliberations and took comprehensive evidence from the UDD of the Ministry of Local Government responsible for multiple, huge and questionable projects done across the country. The Committee identified the projects during each inspection tours, which were funded and managed by the UDD. (b) The Constituency Development Fund (CDF). The Committee also examined the accounts of the CDF for the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 financial years. Specific recommendations are noted in the particular paragraphs in that section of the Report. (c) Various Councils. During the Sittings of the Committee, the chief officers of the major councils; that is, from the City Councils of Nairobi and Mombasa, Kisumu Municipal Council, Nakuru Municipal Council, Thika Municipal Council, Eldoret Municipal Council and Narok County Council appeared to give evidence. However, the Committee was only able to examine to conclusion the accounts of Nakuru Municipal Council for the year 2004/2005 and 2005/2006, respectively. The chief officers of the various councils who appeared before the Committee did not adequately respond to financial and management queries raised either by the Committee or in the Auditor- General’s Report. Since this was the first time for the accounts of local authorities to be examined, the Committee noted with concern the following issues, among others:- (a) Lack of certified accounts for several councils. (b) Production of accounts without books of accounts. (c) Presentation of un-signed accounts to the Controller and Auditor General. (d) Quality of responses to audit queries was wanting. (e) Chief officers brought responses to management letters instead of responses to certified annual accounts. (f) The level of un-preparedness of chief officers. Chief officers appeared unaware of the expectations from the Committee and how to respond to queries. All the witnesses were subjected to thorough interrogation by members of the Committee who analyzed both oral and written submissions critically. Only in a few cases were witnesses able to give the required information."
}