COUNTYS RESPONSE TO THE AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT WHICH APPEARED IN THE STANDARD NEWSPAPER (16TH July, 2014). Reference is made to media reports appearing on Standard Newspaper of 16th July, 2014 pertaining to audit reports on County Governments. The transition to devolved Government Act, 2012 required that the necessary arrangement be put in place before the general elections to ensure seamless transition to County Government without compromising service delivery. One of the important functions of the Transition Authority was to ensure staff were recruited and posted on time. In the case of Taita Taveta County the Interim Staffs were posted way past march 2013, some even reported on April and May. This prompted the Defunct Local Authorities Accounting Officers (Clerks) to continue offering services to the county residents before the new officers took over. It was allegedly claimed that shs. 26m was spent by the County Government of Taita Taveta without approval of Controller of budget. We wish to categorically state that there is no expenditure incurred without seeking the necessary approvals. The expenditure in question relates to costs incurred by the former local authorities during the transition period, before their accounts were closed in the Month of May, 2013. The former councils continued operating the old accounts as the County had not got its funds allocation for the year 2012/2013. The first disbursement was received on 30th April, 2013 and immediately the Former councils were reminded to close the old accounts. However, their expenditures for the period March 2013 to May 2013 were consolidated by the County Treasury and presented to the Taita Taveta County Assembly, for approval; together with the revised budget estimates of the financial year 2012/2013.An appropriation Bill containing the same was approved on 20th June, 2014 and a copy submitted to the Office of Controller of Budget. It is also important to note that the reports were for an audit exercise for the period March to June, 2013, conducted on August, 2013 and the county had since appeared before the Senate Public Accounts and Investments Committee and had been cleared by the Auditor General office on the findings raised. FLORA M. MTUWETA COUNTY EXECUTIVE MEMBER, FINANCE & PLANNING. TAITA TAVETA COUNTY
Posted on: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 15:43:34 +0000
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