By Billy Mijungu
Expenditure
Prudent financial management in government is not a matter of choice but a necessity.
One key area requiring urgent reform is the handling of per diems and daily subsistence allowances for public officials.
The traditional system that allows for cash disbursements has not only created loopholes for misuse but has also led to inefficiencies in expenditure tracking.
The solution lies in transitioning to an electronic payment system using a dedicated government expenditure visa credit card.
The need for fiscal discipline in public service cannot be overstated.
Every year, millions of shillings are lost through exaggerated claims, double payments, and outright ghost expenditures linked to per diems and travel allowances.
By implementing a system where all official travel and office expenditures are made through a government-issued credit card, the state will ensure every transaction is recorded, justified, and traceable.
This will eliminate the culture of public officers pocketing allowances without actual expenditure.
An electronic payment system is the foundation of accountability.
With a government expenditure card, every payment is captured in real time, making it easy for audit trails to be established.
Public officials will no longer have the latitude to inflate costs since each transaction will be verified at the point of payment.
The days of withdrawing large sums of cash under the pretext of official duty only for the funds to be misused for personal expenses will be a thing of the past.
The impact of such a policy would be felt from the highest office to the lowest cadre of government staff.
The head of state, cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries, and all civil servants should be bound by this financial discipline.
If top officials lead by example, the rest of the public sector will follow suit.
This is not just about cost-cutting but about ensuring that public funds are used for their intended purpose.
Moreover, transitioning to an electronic system will enhance budgetary planning.
The government will be able to analyze real expenditure patterns, eliminate unnecessary costs, and allocate funds where they are genuinely needed.
With digital records, treasury officials can quickly assess trends and adjust policies to curb wastage.
Critics may argue that some situations necessitate cash withdrawals.
While exceptional cases may arise, these should be kept to the bare minimum and subjected to strict approval processes.
The primary mode of transaction must remain electronic to safeguard public funds.
Ultimately, the goal is to instill a culture of responsible public finance management.
The days of officers pocketing per diems for workshops they never attended or inflating travel costs to make personal gains must come to an end.
A government expenditure visa credit card is not just a convenience but a necessity for transparency, accountability, and fiscal prudence.
Public money belongs to the people and must be spent with the highest level of integrity.
