Nairobi Speaker Ken Ngondi Squeezed Over Damning Ad-hoc Report on Revenue Collection
Nairobi lawyer is now demanding the Nairobi County Assembly ad-hoc to table the report on investigation of revenue collection by the Nairobi County Government.
According to a letter addressed to the speaker the city advocate Dr. Owiso Owiso is requesting information on a number of issues including reasons to decline on revenue collection, legal and policies guiding revenue collection and system being used by the Nairobi County Government revenue system.
The Assembly is expected to resume next week after a long recess.
‘‘A review of the Assembly’s Hansard reveals the following relevant subsequent events.Through a motion moved by Hon. Peter lmwatok on 14 February 2024, the Assembly resolved to extend the mandate of the Committee for a further period not exceeding forty- five (45) days, and directed the Committee to table its report on/or before 19 March 2024. On 19 March 2024, Hon. Peter lmwatok sought a further extension till 02 April 2024. This extension was granted, with a caution from yourself that you would not allow any further extension of the Committee’s mandate beyond 02 April 2024. On 02 April 2024, you confirmed to the Assembly that you had indeed received the report of the Committee (the Report). However, you invoked Standing Order No. 1 of Assembly Standing Orders and informed the Assembly that you were still perusing the report, and further directed that the report be tabled on 16 April 2024 at 14h30.We note, with surprise, that it is now over four (4) months since you confirmed receipt of the Report, but you are yet to have it tabled before the Assembly.’’ The letter reads.
It has bee noted that the Nairobi County Government of Nairobi could be losing million of shillings through its opaque revenue system NRS.
‘‘Additionally, as this is a matter of significant public interest and which affects residents of Nairobi City County, you have an obligation under article 35(3) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 to make the Report public for residents of Nairobi to peruse and interrogate. In other words, the report of the Committee is by its nature a public document for the reasons that—
i) the investigation was undertaken by an ad hoc committee of the Assembly that was performing its oversight role on behalf of the residents of Nairobi City County pursuant to article 185(3) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010;
ii) the report has already been presented to the Office of the Speaker which is a public office; the issues addressed by the Committee are of significant public concern as they relate to local revenue collection and administration and financial accountability by the county government; and
iv) the Committee’s work was funded by public funds, and huge sums were spent during the inquiry to cater for, among others, sitting allowances, logistical expenses for Committee retreat(s), per diem, media adverts/publicity and legislative time.’’ The letter reads.
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