Reconsider decision on public debt taskforce - Murkomen to LSK

 

Transport and Roads CS Kipchumba Murkomen 

Transport and Roads CS Kipchumba Murkomen has urged the Law Society of Kenya and its president Faith Odhiambo to reconsider her rejection of appointment to the public debt audit taskforce.

Speaking in an interview with Spice FM on Wednesday, Murkomen said LSK President Faith Odhiambo should have taken more time before refusing to be part of the taskforce.

"I still want to implore my President of the LSK to reconsider her position and they should give us the benefit of doing it openly and publicly where we are as a country at the moment without fear or favour," he said.

Murkomen said the audit taskforce formed by President William Ruto will perform a different mandate to that of the Auditor General, saying it will give Kenyans a confirmation that the public debt register corresponds to the projects on the ground.

He said Kenyans need a transparent and open one-off audit that does not take over the Auditor General's mandates. 

Kipchumba went on to say the use of the word "audit" should have been interpreted as "purposively".

"Purposively in the sense that to capture the objective of the moment," he explained.

On Friday, LSK and Odhiambo declined to take up the appointment to the Public Debt taskforce formed by President Ruto.

LSK CEO and Secretary Florence Muturi said the society believes the taskforce is unconstitutional adding that its members would not take up any role in it.

LSK argued that the mandate to audit public debt rests with the office of the Auditor-General.

"Taking cognisance of the provisions of Article 229 of the constitution and the interpretation of the said provisions by the court, it is our considered view that the establishment of the taskforce is unconstitutional," LSK said.

"The Council of the Law Society of Kenya has thus resolved that neither our president nor any of our members shall take up appointments or participate in the said taskforce."

by SHARON MWENDE