Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 14:26:40 -0700 [04:26:40 PM CDT]
From: Henry Mboli
Subject: Re: THE SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET ESTIMATES 2008-9 is not a casual matter

Dear All

President Kibaki was a ministor for finance bebefore, Uhuru Kenyatta is is his project and trainee. Is it surprisingt?

Henry Mwali Mboli
Oasis/Civicon Camp
Juba, South Sudan
Telephone +256477107275
+254738527492
+254722753621

— On Mon, 5/11/09, Emmanuel Dennis wrote:

From: Emmanuel Dennis
Subject: THE SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET ESTIMATES 2008-9 is not a casual matter
Date: Monday, May 11, 2009, 5:01 AM

The partnership for change has been on the front-line to make Kenyans understand their budget and the budget making process. Our leaders in Parliament when the Minister of Finance was reading and presenting the supplementary budget agreed to have it passed without blinking an eye to the details. This shows the importance of also educating members of Parliament on the process so that they do not once again pass a fictitious budget in the future.

We are however dismayed and disappointed even after the damning revelation by the Partnership for change on the 9.6 Billion shillings that was going to be spent on fictitious items. The very serious issues have been reduced to political commentary by the MPs. The issues as raised by the Partnership for change on the budget should not be politicised.

The budgeting principles go beyond the Minister of Finance, it is about the public servants who have worked tirelessly for this nation, it is about the women and children who need food on their tables, it is about the men and youth who are looking for a livelihood, it is about the poor Kenyans, all Kenyans and how the services of the government reach them.

It should be noted that the supplementary budget estimates were approved in one record afternoon and no member of parliament opposed them.

P4C researched the Supplementary budget and raised key questions as follows:

Where is the authority for Variation of what Parliament approved last year?

Where is the authority for the reallocations?

Even though all variations are supposed to be accompanied by explanatory notes
why is it that nowhere is there an explanatory note for over 200 items for Ksh
9.6 billion?

The Minister of Finance rubbished the intention of the Partnership for Change in asking the questions. He did not even consult his officers on the issues raised. He later admitted that there could have been an error after realising things were thick following the Speakers ruling that the matter be referred to the committee.

Kenyans are enraged that the Minister could go ahead to read a budget that does not add up. We would like to see a forensic audit on what transpired at treasury while the Government needs to own up to the very big mistake it committed through inaccurate documents of account as prepared by the Ministry of
Finance technocrats, do these documents meet proper accounting standards?

Parliament needs to deal with this issue very FIRMLY as Kenyans can no longer afford to have their taxes embezzled through dubious means. The problem here is much more bigger than an individual in the name of the minister.

Let Kenyans be very watchful as we await to see the financial estimates for the year 2009/2010 presented. Should we allow the same people who are misleading Kenya to continue being in office at the Ministry of Finance? Are they competent enough to handle our financial resources? Are members of Parliament justified not to handle this matter with urgency of a criminal offence?

Our Leaders MUST be accountable to us.

The Financial Budget should serve Kenyans not a few individuals.
Its about all of us. We are very keen to know what the findings of the joint parliamentary committees will present tomorrow.

Emmanuel Dennis
National Coordinator
Partnership for Change