Drastic changes loom if nominee PSs get the jobs
Principal Secretary nominees appearing before MPs for vetting yesterday promised to make drastic changes to improve their respective dockets.
Interior Principal Secretary nominee Raymond Omollo said he would rely heavily on intelligence gathering, other than stereotypes, to fight crime in the country.
National Treasury Principal Secretary nominee Chris Kiptoo, on his part, said he would push to broaden the tax base and ensure everyone is on board. He said his strategy would not hurt hustlers by increasing the tax burden, but would explore other measures of expanding the tax base.
“We will need to have a structured conversation with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) on how to (go about it). We will engage with professionals in KRA on how to broaden the tax base without hurting businesses and taxpayers,” Kiptoo said when he appeared before the National Assembly’s committee on Finance and Planning, chaired by Molo MP Kuria Kimani.
Omollo, who takes over from Karanja Kibicho, at the powerful Interior docket, said he would approach the fight against crime in a different way. On the cattle rustling menace in parts of the country, he said: “We must look at new ways of combating rustling, through intelligence, case studies, as well as see whether to increase punishment for culprits”.
Omollo, who appeared before the Administration and Internal Affairs Committee, assured that he would not misuse powers bestowed on the office.
The nominee is currently the managing director of the Lake Basin Development Authority. He told MPs that he is worth Sh450 million from land and stocks.
He told the committee, which is chaired by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, that he would dedicate his time to serve Kenyans without disadvantaging someone because of region, or political bias.
“This job goes beyond ensuring Kenyans are safe, but ensuring they go about their businesses without any fear. I will be consultative, have an open-door policy and work by the rules,” he explained.
The nominee said he would work towards the digitisation of the Occurrence Book (OB), equip police officers with, not only technologically advanced equipment, but also skills for using the same, as well as check on the welfare of the police.
“On OBs, I’ll work to ensure the plan progresses from the pilot phase and moves away from physical OBs. We need to equip officers with modern technological knowhow,” he added. Omollo further assured MPs that he would look into issues of remuneration and career progression of police and officers attached to the national government administration (NGAO).
Revise service charters
“I will look into these welfare issues, be it on accommodation or their tools of trade,” he said, adding that he would seek a review of the department’s service charters. This was even as MPs urged him to explain his plans for revitalising the government printing press, ending Nacada cash woes, handling insecurity in bandit-prone areas, and operationalising administrative units.
The PS nominee added that the government needs Sh7.5 billion to operationalise the administrative units that were created by the past administrations.
Lawmakers also sought his views on leasing of police and NGAO officers’ vehicles, and why, despite the billions spent on leases, administration officers were still asking for lifts for lack of vehicles. Some MPs claimed cases of assistant county commissioners (formerly DCs) boarding matatus to work, or seeking lifts from chiefs — whose bikes have no budgetary provision for maintenance, are rampant.
Omollo said the Government Press’ equipment should be modernised, say, through public private partnerships.
Kiptoo, who has been serving as the PS in the Environment and Forestry docket, added that the National Treasury will open a discussion with experts on tax wealth, including lands and properties, as a way of increasing the tax base. “If approved, I will deal with the issues of wastage of resources, for example, foreign trips by public servants will be frozen,” Kiptoo assured.
He put his net worth at Sh388 million, comprising property investments including houses and land in Nairobi and Eldoret. Other sources of his wealth include salary and farming business.
Contentious NG-CDF
On the contentious issue of National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), Kiptoo said he would liaise with the office of the Attorney General for directions on what route to take.
He said that Treasury would seek an opinion from the government advisor due to the Supreme Court ruling that termed the 2013 CDF Act illegal.
Others vetted were Economic Planning PS nominee James Muhati who appeared before the Finance and Planning Committee, Crop Development PS nominee Philip Harsama and Harry Kimutai, who will serve as Livestock Development PS.
