NAIROBI, Kenya, May, 24 – The Committee of Experts (CoE) on Constitution Review said on Monday that it was yet to receive Sh200 million needed for civic education from the Treasury.
CoE Director Ekuru Aukot said the commission was still waiting for the funds about two weeks after the civic education exercise was supposed to kick off in accordance with the law.
“We are still waiting for Sh200 million from the Treasury. They had promised us that this money would be released last week, but they have not yet done that,” he said.
Dr Aukot said officials from CoE held a meeting with the Treasury and those from the Constitutional Affairs Ministry on Monday morning but they were yet to discuss details of the meeting with him. “My officers were at a meeting but they have not yet briefed me about the money.”
He said CoE had only received funds meant for administration which is Sh529 million. He said the last disbursement of Sh115 million from the Treasury was released two weeks ago.
Dr Aukot said funding for civic education had not been considered when the Treasury allocated a budget for the CoE. “Publication of civic education material, infomercials, radio and television programmes had not been factored in.”
When the committee raised the issue, Treasury advised them to write a proposal, which CoE did.
“Our proposal came to Sh400 million, and we gave it to the Treasury last year. Three weeks ago, we realised this money had not been sent to us,” he explained.
He said after the Attorney General published the proposed Constitution, the committee did not have money to start comprehensive civic education as it had planned.
“So that is when I got worried and we decided to engage in a series of meetings with the Treasury and the Justice and Constitutional Affairs Ministry.”
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