Public entities have until February 2, 2024 to present details on pending bills in their books, as the committee formed to scrutinize them plans to start its work in a month’s time.
This follows a public notice by the Pending Bills Verification Committee requiring all accounting officers under the national government to supply details on their existing pending bills, procurement and contract documents relating to them, and explanations on those that have been settled.
The government owes its suppliers, mostly small and medium-sized enterprises, more than Sh600 billion, according to a November statement from the Office of the President.
The committee chaired by former Auditor-General, Edward Ouko, was established to carry out a thorough analysis of the stock of pending bills that have accumulated from June 2005 to June 2022.
“In accordance with the Gazette Notice and in order to come up with well-reasoned conclusions and recommendations regarding these bills, the Committee is required to scrutinize and analyse the existing stock of National Government pending bills,” the notice by Mr Ouko stated.
“In view of the foregoing, you are required to submit the following information for your respective Ministry/State Department/Agency/State Corporations/Public Universities/Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies/Institutions: all existing pending bills for both Recurrent and Development votes, all Procurement, Contracting, Implementation and Contract Certification Documents, reasons as to why the bills have remained unpaid to date, and any other necessary information which may assist the Committee in analyzing the bills."
Key functions of the committee include scrutinizing and analysing existing national government pending bills that have accumulated between June 2005 and June 2022 and making recommendations to the government on settlement of the same, and determining the genuineness of the pending claims.
It will then recommend to the National Treasury on the necessary actions to be taken for satisfactory disposal or settlement of identified pending bills.
Part of the committee’s mandate is also to “identify any cases where there may have been corrupt, fraudulent and false claims against the Government and make appropriate recommendations to the relevant Government agencies.”
State departments for roads, transport, medical services, public health and professional standards, sports, correctional services and the National Police Service, are expected to be among the first to submit the information on January 29, 2024.
The committee has set the dates from January 29 to February 2, within which all public entities under the national government will be expected to present the information.
“The Committee has strict timelines to complete its work, it would be appreciated if the information requested in this public notice is submitted to reach the Committee on the stipulated date indicated against your Ministry/State Department/Agency/Institution,” the public notice stated.
