Finance Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani has been summoned by the Senate over incessant delays in disbursement of funds to County governments.
In a letter dated 7th July 2021, Speaker of the Senate Kenneth Lusaka ordered Yatani to appear in person for the meeting scheduled for Tuesday next week failure to which action will be taken on the CS.
Lusaka issued the summons following complaints by the Senate Finance Committee chaired by Kirinyaga Senator Charles Kibiru that Yatani had failed to honour their meetings to give answers over delay in release of funds.
Kibiru is seeking answers as to why Treasury is delaying disbursement of funds to counties saying the failure is impacting the devolved units badly, revealing that a staggering 27 counties had not received money since March this year, crippling their functions.
He said they had called Yatani on two occasions but he had failed to turn up yet the issues he is to address are very critical because of the impact they have on the running of county governments.
Lusaka threatened to sanction Yatani under the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act.
“Kindly note that should you fail to attend the meeting, the Senate will be constrained to exercise its powers under section 18 of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, 2017,” said Lusaka.
Kibiru said his committee is concerned that the delays in the disbursement of funds to the counties continue to undermine the principles and objects of devolution as espoused in the constitution.
He said the CS is under the constitutional duty to honour any invitation to appear before a Committee of Parliament to address any matter for which the Cabinet Secretary is responsible.
“This function is intended to facilitate the oversight function of the Houses of Parliament and to ensure the accountability of state officers in the exercise of public duty,” said Kibiru.
