President Ruto Calls Out Treasury CS Ndung’u Over Male-Dominated Bills Committee
President William Ruto has faulted the composition of the Pending Bills Verification Committee that was unveiled on Tuesday by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Prof Njuguna Ndung’u.
Speaking during the launch of the committee at State House, Nairobi, President Ruto termed the committee as “unconstitutional”, noting that it does not meet the two-thirds gender threshold.
“Before I make very brief remarks let me just assist my CS with some housekeeping manners. I am not a very good mathematician but being a scientist, I know something about maths. When I looked at the composition of the committee it was clear to me that it was unconstitutional because it lacked the gender balance,” said Ruto.
The Head of State went ahead to propose that the CS either reduce the number of men in the committee or increase the number of women to meet the two-thirds gender rule.
“There are only 4 women out of a whole committee of 20. So, I respectfully suggest Mr Minister that you either reduce the number of men or you add the number of women so that it is constitutional,” said Ruto.
He added: “It is time we begin to live by the principles of the constitution without paying reap service.”
The Pending Bills Verification Committee set to be chaired by former Auditor General Edward Ouko has been tasked with the auditing government’s pending bills that have accrued between 2005 and 2022.
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According to President Ruto, currently, the government owes suppliers at least Ksh.600 billion.
“As of today, our stock of pending bills is all the way to above Ksh.600 billion. That is the money government at various levels, owe our suppliers,” he said.
The Committee will consist of the Attorney General as well as representatives from the State Department of Roads, the State Department of Public Works, the State Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority.
Representatives of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Law Society of Kenya, the Institute of Engineers of Kenya, and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya will also be part of the team.
The Committee will examine and submit interim reports to the Treasury Cabinet Secretary upon verification.
The move is aimed at establishing the integrity of all bills and cushioning small enterprises against liquidity inadequacies.
Crucially, the committee will propose a mechanism to stop future pending bills.
President Ruto Calls Out Treasury CS Ndung’u Over Male-Dominated Bills Committee
