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By Isabella Maua
Bungoma County Governor Kenneth Lusaka has challenged accounting chief officers to ensure prudent use of public resources while strictly observing laws and procedures.
Speaking during the official opening of an induction workshop for the newly appointed chief officers of finance, economic planning, and climate change across Kenya, Lusaka commented that the back will always stop with the accounting officers.
“Never take verbal instructions; always ensure you have written circulars that are per the laws and procedures of the Public Finance Management Act, or PFM Act,” said Lusaka.
The principal, who was representing the council of governors, observed that in the past, officers who heeded political pressure had found themselves in the wrong hands of the law.
“If you don’t follow the law and procedures, you will always be visitors to EACC while those you took command from are long gone,” cautioned Lusaka.
He at the same time observed that chief officers have an immense responsibility bestowed upon them as accounting officers that will require unwavering commitment and dedication to transform the lives of Kenyans.
“This induction presents a chance for us to be well acquainted with the sector issues and canvass the emerging issues that need our attention,” he noted.
The induction aims at equipping the Cos with knowledge on specific issues like a general overview of devolution in Kenya in relation to constitutional assignment of functions that relate to the sector, unbundling and costing of functions, the county framework on Planning and Budgeting, County government Financing, County government Procurement, Financial Reporting, Program/Project management, monitoring, and Evaluation.
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The sessions will further apprise county chiefs of the collective goal of enhancing service delivery to citizens and ensuring economic development at the lowest level, as envisioned under the principles and objectives of devolution.
Lusaka also said that the induction workshop will also provide a platform for consultation on the implementation of the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Program.
Also present during the meeting were the PS State Department for Environment and Forestry, Eng. Festus Ngeno; the PS State Department for Water and Sanitation, Dr. Paul Ronoh; the CEO, COG, Ms. Mary Mwiti; and Taita Taveta governor Andrew Mwadime.