The National Assembly’s Environment, Forestry and Mining Committee was forced to adjourn a sitting with the Permanent Secretary (PS) State Department for Forestry Mr. Mugambi Gitonga together with the management of all State SAGAs under his docket after it turned out that the report they had presented before the Committee on the operations, financial estimates and performances fell short of comprehensively addressing concerns raised by the Committee.
After browsing through his presentation before the Committee sitting chaired by the Committee Vice Chairperson, Hon. Charles Kamuren (Baringo South), the MPs raised a number of questions regarding appropriations on projects undertaken by the State Department. They also questioned the expenditures on the National Tree Planting Campaign (NTPC) for the period covering the 2022/23 to 2023/24 Financial Years.
Committee Member, Hon.Titus Lotee (Kacheliba) pointed out that the PS and his team had clearly failed to reveal the full amounts the State Department had received after Parliamentary budgetary appropriations.
“Hon. Chair, look at the tree planting campaign, 20 million was used for mobilising and logistics. Is this the percentage as required by law. This Committee seeks to know the activities carried out at the Kshs. 1.3 billion cost, during the National Tree Planting Day”, Hon. Lotee sought to know.
“Talking of 15 billion tree project in the country, it is about the right trees or the right seedlings being planted at the right place. The person charged with handling this project is still in an acting capacity. How can she effectively deliver when she is not fully in charge of the office?”, asked Hon. Joseph Emathe (Turkana Central).
The Turkana Central lawmaker further raised concerns on why dry areas like Turkana had not been factored in such projects. He encouraged the PS to consider extending similar activities by the Government in such areas so as to increase forest cover across the country. His sentiments were strongly supported by Hon. Mohamed Tubi (Isiolo South).
Hon. Onesmus Ngogoyo (Kajiado North) and Hon. Feisal Bader (Msambweni) raised concerns over the employment opportunities advertised by the State Department. They queried whether the recruitment process had been carried out transparently.
Hon. Bader specifically sought information from the PS on the status of the 4,000 – Green Army – positions advertised by Kenya Forest Service (KFS). He further pointed out to the PS that most of the officers manning forests in the country have continued to live under very difficult working conditions.
Kibwezi East Member of Parliament, Hon. Jessica Mbalu also weighed on the matter. She noted that all Members of the Committee were dissatisfied with the report on allocation of funds appropriated for the State Department for Forestry.
“Everything is not tallying here Hon. Chair. Members are not satisfied with the information we are getting. We can see omissions and errors, and it seems the Ministry was not prepared to appear before us”.
Having consulted with his team of managers, PS Mugambi requested that the Committee allows them more time to consult on the figures presented in their report. He however pointed out a few recent changes in the finance department where new officers were recently deployed, as one of the challenges they faced while preparing the report presented.
Session Chair Hon. Kamuren and Hon. Gertrude Mbeyu (Kilifi) agreed that there was a problem with the presentation since the figures were not adding up.
Hon. Kamuren ruled that the meeting be adjourned to allow the PS and his team time to prepare well and appear again in two weeks.
