The three day workshop to induct the 5 member Kisumu County Audit Committee came to a close today with the Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o presiding over the closing ceremony held at Ciala Resort.

The workshop organized by the National Treasury in partnership with the German Development Cooperation- GIZ sought to enlighten the members on various issues relating to the job ahead. Key highlights touched on establishment of the audit committees, roles and responsibilities of the committees, Enterprise risk management, audit committee oversight on financial statements, the PFM Act 2012 and regulations 2015, procurement fraud, and corruption risk management, internal audit and audit committee performance measurement among others.

Speaking to the members at the closing ceremony, the Governor thanked the team for accepting to support the county in strengthening the audit systems. He stressed the need to strengthen systems of governance in order to realize any goals. He called upon the team to champion automation of government systems to ensure proper utilisation of public resources and accountability.

This he said will go a long way in the fight against graft that the public sector has been grappling with for a long time urging the committee members to take on the job with courage and feel free to raise issues and make recommendations where necessary for enhanced efficiency and productivity.

The County CEC in charge of Finance and Planning George Omondi acknowledged that both the counties and the National Government have had challenges with placement of the audit committees, a problem he says is being addressed by both governments with significant steps made so far.

However, he pledged to facilitate the committee to do its work to enable seamless operations of the committee.

Governments have realized the important role played by audit committees and are now embracing them to offer their support on implementation of external audit reports and other financial reports. Both levels of governments have so far put into place various guidelines to aid the processes owing to the important role played by auditors in terms of ensuring controls and risk management.

The training was also attended by the county Internal Audit Staff.

By: Nancy Juma

The National Treasury in partnership with the German Development Cooperation- GIZ, have organized a three-day training workshop for the established Kisumu county audit Committee at Ciala Resort in Kisumu.

The Training is focusing on the establishment of the audit committees, roles and responsibilities of the committees, Enterprise risk management, audit committee oversight over financial statements, the PFM Act 2012 and regulations 2015, procurement fraud, fraud and corruption risk management, internal audit and audit committee performance measurement.

While officially opening the training sessions, the County Executive Member for Finance and Economic Planning, Mr. George Okong’o pledged to facilitate the committee to do its work to enable seamless operations of the committee.

He told the committee that it has been granted its independent space to address weaknesses in the system and take corrective action before it gets out of hand into the public domain.

The County executive member also thanked the German Development Cooperation – GIZ and Office of the Auditor General for their immense support on this training and that they look forward to more of such fruitful engagements that strengthen the internal structures of governance.

On her part, the Acting Manager for Good Governance Program from German Development Cooperation- GIZ, Ms Sylvia Aluoch, said their aim was to improve governance structure for service delivery to the people.

They also support the proper function of the established audit committee membership to carry out their work as outlined in the PFM Act 2012 that is to prevent corruption cases, EACC issues and unnecessary audit queries from the auditor general’s office.

The Facilitators from the office of the auditor general to train the audit committee include: Mr. Patrick Owiti, Mr. Daniel Nyaga, and Mr. Abdi Sahal.

By: Emily Mikwa

The Ward Administrator, Mr.Patrick Olweny leading the people of Manyatta B in public participation on CBROP 2020 at Kasawino hall

Kisumu County, Department of Finance and Economic planning organised a seven day public participation on County Budget Review and out look Paper (CBROP) FY 2019/2020 across all the wards within the county.

The exercise was initiated in pursuit to section 118 of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act of 2012, which provides for transparency and accountability that include public to access information, citizen participation and feedback.

Its focus was to provide reviews of the fiscal performance of the FY 2019/2020, and how its implementation impacts on the fiscal year objectives and the responsibility principles set in the county fiscal strategy paper ( CFSP) 2020.

The significance of the CBROP is that it links planning with budgeting process within Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF)

CBROP reviews previous fiscal performance for the year and identifies any deviations from the budget with an aim of providing realistic forecasts for the coming year.

This was evident with the unprecedented Covid 19 pandemic which had effect on source revenue collection, leading to late disbursement of funds from the national treasury resulting to supplementary budget to cater for its mitigation.

The review also assesses how fiscal responsibility principles were adhered to as provided for in the PFM Act 2012 and forms a basis for any budget revision and sets out broad fiscal parameters for the next budget.

By: Emily Mikwa

Public participation underway at Rabuor Chief’s camp in Kochieng’ village ( Photo by David Wadulo)

The first public participation under the new County village Units Act of 2019 of the devolved system of governance was convened  across the county.

The 10 days exercise  created a forum for ‘bottom-up’ engagement through which village representatives selected by the communities spearheaded their project priorities to be incorporated in the upcoming County Annual Development Plan (CADP)2021/2022 which also marks the fifth and final year of implementation of the CIDP 2018/2022.

Being cognizant of the COVID-19 pandemic, the forums adhered to restriction on the number of participants and the MOH regulations on Covid -19 mitigation measures during the exercise in all 70 the county village units.

Not only was the number of participants limited to 20, but also the selection was done based on having a representation from each sub locations, having those who can actively debate, opinion leaders, representatives from the thematic sectors and the special interest groups.

This year’s exercise is set to identify and capture priority projects in each sector for every village unit, following the enactment of the Kisumu county village units Act of 2019 by the Kisumu County Assembly which saw the establishment of 70 Village Units for effective coordination, management and supervision of the general administrative functions in the Village Units and for connection purposes.

According to the County Director Public Participation Mr. Wilson Nindo, Previously Public participation was organized at the ward level, but this year it was taken to the village units in form of focused group discussions that has resulted to quality debate as opposed to the ward level that was crowded and sometimes chaotic.

“The exercise was overwhelmingly embraced by the people; hence it is a positive direction to take, an indicator that the strategy of the Governor is working beyond expectation” said Mr. Nindo

He reiterated that going forward, county activities involving the public such as county budget review outlook paper and development of County fiscal strategy paper will follow the same trajectory.

Some of the participants interviewed during the exercise were elated having their views incorporated from the grass roots.

“Previously when the exercise was held at the ward level, the PWDs were not easily identified and given a chance but at the village level, I am happy that my views have been heard and considered. Going forward in the next forums we should have a representation of both male and female PWDs brought on board” said Mr. Charles Ocholla from Kolwa East, representing persons living with disability (PWDs).

On her part, Mrs. Elizabeth Ayugi from Chiga sub location said “Before it was not easy for our opinion to bought in such forums, it is a good move today that our views as women at the grass root have been captured. This will empower more women to air out their views without reservations”.

Subsequently, Mr. Jack Nyumba, a youth representative in the forum said “in the past youths have been misguided by political tussles, involving us youths in such forums will change our mindset to development conscience. I request the Governor that if the projects proposed will be implemented, let us youths get opportunities in our localities for economic empowerment like in the case of road maintenance”.

By: Mikwa Emily