The Senate will deepen its interactions with all the stakeholders in order to strengthen and protect devolution.

Speaking when he officially closed the Senate Retreat with the Constitutional oversight institutions and independent offices in Mombasa County, Senate Speaker Rt. Hon. Amason Jeffa Kingi, EGH, MP said there is need for the House to continue engaging stakeholders who will help it discharge its mandate appropriately to ensure devolution yields the intended goals.

“This retreat has met its objectives, we have had a robust discussion with Senators and resource persons, we have had the best opportunity to pick various issues that need to be addressed for the success of devolution,” explained Speaker Kingi.

Hon. Kingi appealed to Senators to invite and continue engaging different stakeholders that add value to their work regarding devolution.

Speaker Kingi used the closing opportunity to thank the Senators for availing themselves for the retreat while at the same time commending the Senate staff for the exemplary work that they displayed and have continued to display in discharge of their duties.

Before Hon. Kingi officially closed the retreat, Clerk of the Senate and Secretary of Parliamentary Service Commission Mr. Jeremiah Nyegenye, CBS, gave the way forward enumerating the resolutions made during the retreat that the House is expected to consider.

Among them were resolutions to amend the PFM Act, 2012 to provide for adequate timelines for the preparation and submission of BIRRs to Parliament, Amendment of the PFM Act, 2012 to review the timings of the BPS and the CFSPs to ensure that Counties align their priorities to the national fiscal framework and enactment of the legislation to enhance, promote and facilitate public participation in budget making and governance processes.

In order to address the issue of pending bills, the Senate will work with oversight institutions in entrenching fiscal discipline including during consideration of reports of the Controller of Budget and the Auditor General besides collaboration with the Controller of Budget and Office Auditor General to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation framework in the counties through legislative interventions.

On continuous launch of new projects, the sitting resolved to have a framework to address the issue.

“The Senate will consider a framework for ensuring completion of existing projects before new ones are started, to address the challenge of unmitigated loss of public funds,” explained Mr. Nyegenye.

Members further resolved to work closely with the Controller of Budget and the Auditor General in promoting adherence to budget and procurement laws, including during consideration of audit reports.

In addition, the legislators resolved to amend the Public Audit Act to create a fund for the Office of Auditor General and provide financial autonomy to enhance audit and oversight functions besides allocating more financial resources to the EACC to ensure there is adequate resources and human capital to perform its mandate.

The line committees and all Senators were encouraged to embrace the resolutions and work towards their implementation.