Nairobi, Sept. 24 -- We are in the middle of a raging debate about the role and powers of the Office of the Controller of Budget-the gatekeeper of the public purse-following remarks by its current holder, Dr Margaret Nyakang'o, during an interview on a popular television programme.

Her comments attracted attention because many Kenyans interpreted her assertion that the office has no visibility over funds and levies held outside the Consolidated Fund-including the multi-billion-shilling National Infrastructure Fund-as an alarming disclosure. They saw it as evidence that the Executive had hidden public money from an all-seeing watchdog.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Business Daily....