Kibicho Sets Record Straight Over Ksh1 Billion Huduma Namba Card Printing Budget

Interior PS Karanja Kibicho came out guns blazing in regards to the matter of the budget set aside for the printing of Huduma Namba cards.

Kibicho, was irked after it was reported that the Fred Matiang’i ministry required an additional Ksh 1 billion for the printing of cards.

The PS through a press release, reiterated that the information given was false and inconsistent with the normal logical implementation of the budget procedure.

Interior PS Karanja Kibicho during a past event

He further pointed out that no extra finances were required for a project that already cost Ksh 7.5 billion.

The tough-talking Kibicho asserted that only a specific amount was released for the exercise by Treasury under a specific circumstance.

“We wish to clarify that while the government approved Ksh 7.5 billion for the whole Huduma Namba exercise, only Ksh 5.5 billion was released to the ministry by Treasury with the balance due in the subsequent financial year, which is the current period,” read a part of the statement by Kibicho.

The former chairman of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at JKUAT, insisted that no money was asked for in terms of having the cards printed.

The engineer, however, commented that the Interior ministry had indeed appealed for the quoted money though for a different purpose.

According to the government employee, the Ksh 1 billion would be used to pay the 50,000 clerks for the extra eight days they worked after President Uhuru Kenyatta extended the exercise.

Kibicho added that,” The funds will also cater for the digitization of Civil Registration Services (Birth Certificates) which is a prerequisite of Huduma Namba as well as to clear pending bills associated with the same exercise.”

Interior Karanja Kibicho’s statement

On Wednesday, the request was brought before parliament by Treasury CS Ukur Yatani.

Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa who is the chair of the Budget and Appropriation Committee, questioned the move by the government pointing out that it was yet to release the findings of the exercise conducted eight months ago.

Ichung’wa declared that the proposal for the money to enable the printing of the documents was a wastage of funds.

Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa during a past media briefing

The new twist comes after Kenyans before the process, were notified that they would get cards but ended up being issued with acknowledgement slips.

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