Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution vice chairperson Elizabeth Muli. FILE
What you need to know:
Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution says it has secured Sh600 million from donors and still has deficit.
MPs have questioned the huge funding of the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution by foreign donors after the Treasury allocated it only a third of the Sh1.2 billion it requested.
Elizabeth Muli, the CIC vice chairperson told the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee of the House that the commission presented a Sh1.2 billion budget but the Treasury only availed Sh399.42 million.
She said the commissioned had asked the Treasury for Sh573 million but only Sh399.42 million was allocated leaving a budget deficit of Sh157 million.
“We have secured Sh600 million from donors who have been funding us over the past two years. We need to get the deficit to ensure the Constitution is fully implemented,” Ms Muli told the committee chaired by Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga.
The committee directed the commission to present figures from the previous years on Tuesday morning.
Chepalungu MP Paul Bii demanded that the commission tables a breakdown of salary and allowances payable to each commissioner and members of staff. Commissioner Kamotho Waiganjo, however, said the pay for commissioners was not included in the budget presented to the committee on Monday.
“Our salary is not in this budget but we will furnish you with that information together with the salary payable to staff,” said Mr Waiganjo.
CIC Commissioners draw their salary directly from the Consolidated Fund.
Kibra MP Ken Okoth expressed concern over the high level of donor funding to the crucial constitutional commission.
“Are you working for the taxpayers or foreigners given that huge level of funding?” asked Mr Okoth.
CIC chairman Charles Nyachae did not attend the meeting as he was said to be on annul leave.
Githunguri MP Njoroge Baiya asked the commission to provide agreements negotiated with donors and the level of funding each donor contributes to the commission’s purse.
MPs have been embroiled in a war of words with the Nyachae commission over their demands for increased pay.
Mr Nyachae has warned public officers in Parliament not to pay any money above the Sh532,500 set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). The MPs last week voted to annul four gazette notices published in March 1 by the SRC.
Preparing Bills
Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi asked the commission to fast track preparation of all Bills with an August 27 deadline for tabling and approval by the House. He said MPs do not want to wait to be ambushed with the legislations on the last week of the deadline.
The commission in its budget has projected to spend Sh573 million and Sh576 million in the next two financial years respectively.
The budget’s it said seeks to facilitate the implementation of necessary policies, laws, structures and administrative procedures that are in accordance with the Constitution.
