Willy Mutunga calls for Treasury audit

 

Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga on Monday ruffled feathers during his first address after being unveiled as the new Knya Revenue Authority KRA tax ambassador .

Mutunga called for an independent public inquiry into the Ksh5 Trillion national debt since Independence.

“We need a commission of public inquiry into public debt since independence,” he justifying his sentiment by adding that the inquiry would help examine how the debt had been utilized by the State.

This, he argued would encourage transparency in the utilization of public funds noting that the inquiry would help clear lingering questions on how the money in the public coffers was being used.

He said the inquiry would help examine how the debt has been utilised by the State so far in turn boosting transparency in the use of public resources.

In a swift rejoinder, however, Treasury secretary Henry Rotich dismissed the need for an inquiry saying records on Kenya’s public debt are publicly available since independence.

He added that the government had been transparent in how it has used borrowed funds.

President Kenyatta is expected to accumulate nearly Sh2.13 trillion more in public debt by the time his final term ends in August 2022, the Treasury projections show, signalling increased pressure on taxpayers’ funds.

Treasury chiefs project in draft Budget Review and Outlook Paper that total debt will jump to nearly Sh7.17 trillion in the year ending June 2022.

Dr Mutunga maintained the issue of public debt is an emotive one for the already overburdened taxpayers, adding that such an inquiry would help clear lingering questions on prudent use of public funds.

“The questions may never go away if we don’t address this,” said Dr Mutunga.

Early this year, Auditor-General Edward Ouko renewed the controversy surrounding the Sh215.5 billion that Kenya borrowed via of a Eurobond, saying its receipt and spending are yet to be ascertained.

“The questions may never go away if we don’t address this,” he appealed.

The treasury CS Henry Rotich was immediately opposed to the comments conveying that the records were already in the public domain.

Further dismissing Mutunga’s suggestion, the CS defended the government’s track record stating that it had exercised transparency in running its affairs.

“All the public information is available, the government has been transparent,” CS Rotich stated in a swift rejoinder.

Kenya’s debt currently stands at Ksh5.04 trillion in June 2018, up from Ksh1.89 trillion in June 2013.

At the same time, Treasury projections show that President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to accumulate nearly Sh2.13 trillion more in public debt by the time his final term ends in August 2022.

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