Curb transition malpractices
The Parliament Building in Nairobi.
What you need to know:
- The exiting governors and winding up of NMS present transitional risks which could mess the incoming regimes in the long term.
- The Legislature should compile and present detailed registers of assets, pending bills, debtors and staff listing before the polls.
The electioneering period is here, implying that the term of the sitting President, MCAs, MPs, senators and governors is fast running out. The August general election presents a unique scenario: More than 20 governors will be exiting office after serving out their constitutional two terms. Nairobi Metropolitan Services will also wind up soon as per the transfer of functions deed.
Governors have a major say in matters employment, procurement, projects and payments of suppliers, among others. The exiting governors and winding up of NMS present transitional risks which could mess the incoming regimes in the long term.
For example, Nairobi City County has its own approved Staff Establishment Structure which guides the filling of vacancies and there is a risk that NMS may go on an employment spree as we have seen with ongoing recruitment of askaris. We are likely to witness chaos and confusion in absorbing the staff. The same risk can be replicated in the counties.
Also, during such a period, service providers, especially office cleaning, garbage collection, internet and revenue collection, are awarded contracts exceeding one financial year. Capital-intensive projects are awarded and commissioned too, well aware that the current budget cannot support them, leading to their stalling. The incoming governors could spend most of their term managing the mess.
The Legislature should prioritise control of the eminent malpractices during the coming office transitions. It imperative to legislate a timeframe before election day within which staff recruitment, development projects, purchase and transfer of major assets, pending bills, borrowings and signing of contracts, for instance, in counties and NMS are frozen.
They should compile and present detailed registers of assets, pending bills, debtors and staff listing before the polls. The law may also require special transitional audit on employment, contracts, assets and liabilities three months to and after elections.
Mr Mwinamo is a financial auditor. [email protected]
