Civil Society Opposes Bill Seeking To Protect Officers Involved In Procurement Irregularities
The amendment bill, which is sponsored by Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku Kariuki, seeks to cushion public officers from being criminalized if they fail to comply with procurement guidelines and the implementation of unplanned projects.
They have asked the parliament through the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) to ignore the proposals.
MP Kariuki wants subsections 2(b) and 2(c) to be deleted from Section 5 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act which dictates that an officer or person whose functions concern the administration, custody, management, receipt or use of any part of the public revenue or public property is guilty of an offence if the person;
"Willfully or carelessly fails to comply with any law or applicable procedures and guidelines relating to the procurement, allocation, sale or disposal of property, tendering of contracts, management of funds or incurring of expenditures," reads subsection 2(b).
"Engages in a project without prior planning," reads subsection 2(c).
Regarding the Financial Bill 2023, the lobby groups have blasted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over remarks he made that the bill will be approved in parliament despite protests by certain individuals.
They say DP Gachagua's remarks were not appropriate, especially at this time when Kenyans are grappling with a collapsing economy.
To ensure that the bill collapses in Parliament, they have emphasized that they will mount pressure on legislators to reject it. BY CITIZEN DIGITAL
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