A Nairobi-based lawyer has written to Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Ken Ng’ondi, demanding the release of an ad hoc committee report on the state of revenue collection in Nairobi.
In a letter dated September 5, Owiso Owiso accuses Ng’ondi of withholding the report for four months after the committee completed its work. Last October, the assembly resolved to form the committee to investigate the county’s local revenue collection systems and administration.
Declining revenue
The 11-member panel, established in November, was expected to submit its report within 60 days. The committee was tasked with addressing why local revenue collection was declining, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the revenue system, and proposing legal, policy, and administrative interventions to improve collections.
On February 14, Majority Leader Peter Imwatok moved a motion to extend the committee’s mandate by up to 45 days. The ward representatives approved this extension, setting a new deadline of March 19 for the report.
Another extension
Imwatok later requested an additional extension until April 2, which was granted. Ng’ondi warned that no further extensions would be entertained. On April 2, the Speaker confirmed receiving the report but invoked the assembly’s standing orders, requesting time to review it before tabling it on April 16.
“We note with surprise that it is now over four months since you confirmed receipt of the report, but you have yet to table it before the assembly,” part of Owiso’s letter reads.
Standing orders
The lawyer reminded Ng’ondi of specific standing orders that guide assembly committees and the timely submission of reports to the assembly.
“To this end, we wish to inform you that you are obstructing a lawful process by effectively hoarding a public report in your office,” the letter adds.
Owiso states that the Speaker is legally required to inform the clerk upon receiving the report so that it can be tabled.
He emphasizes that the issue is of significant public interest, noting that taxpayers’ money was used for the committee’s work. Consequently, he has requested from the Speaker details on the current status of the report and the total cost incurred by the committee to fulfill its mandate.
Legal action
Owiso demands that the Speaker approve the tabling of the report immediately upon the assembly’s resumption or specify when it will be tabled.
“Take notice that should you fail to provide the information as demanded herein above within the stated timelines, we intend to take necessary legal action without further reference to you,” the letter states.
The letter was also copied to Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
