.

BACK TO OFFICE REPORT

I. GENERAL INFORMATION
a). Mission date(s) 03rd AUGUST 2023, THURSDAY
b). Mission to 8TH FLOOR, BIMA HOUSE, Nairobi City County

c). Activity (if applicable) CONSULTATIVE MEETING BETWEEN COUNTY

d). Mission member(s)
e). Institutions represented
ASSEMBLIES’ FORUM AND THE PUBLIC FINANCE
MANAGEMENT REFORMS SECRETARIAT
Ms. Lonah Losem- Ag. Secretary General
Mr, Austin Munene- Legislative Officer.
CAF, PFMR.

f). BTOR distribution list Executive Committee, CAF Secretariat.

REPORT TITLE: CONSULTATIVE MEETING BETWEEN COUNTY

ASSEMBLIES’ FORUM AND THE PUBLIC FINANCE
MANAGEMENT REFORMS SECRETARIAT

I. INTRODUCTION

This report summarizes the outcomes of a consultative meeting between the County Assemblies Forum
(CAF) and the Public Finance Management Reforms Secretariat. The meeting aimed to explore
opportunities for a partnership between the two institutions to enhance the capacity of Members of
County Assemblies (MCAs) and other stakeholders.

II. DESCRIPTION OF MISSION ACHIEVEMENTS/TASKS COMPLETED

 During the consultative meeting held between the County Assemblies Forum (CAF) and the
Public Finance Management Reforms Secretariat, Mr. Oliver Mwenda, the PFMR Officer,
provided a comprehensive overview of the roles and functions of the Public Finance Management
Reforms (PFMR) and shared insights into the review and development of the Public Financial
Management Reforms Strategy for the period 2018-2023. The meeting aimed to foster
cooperation and collaboration between CAF and PFMR in enhancing the effectiveness of
financial management within county assemblies. The key achievements and tasks completed
during the meeting include.
 Mr. Oliver Mwenda's Presentation: Mr. Mwenda delivered a detailed presentation on the roles of
PFMR and outlined the key components of the Public Financial Management Reforms Strategy
.
2018-2023. The presentation facilitated a shared understanding of the objectives and priorities of
the strategy.
 Deliberations on Cooperation Areas: The meeting participants engaged in productive discussions
and identified several areas of cooperation to enhance financial management within county
assemblies.
III. RECOMMENDATIONS/ NEXT STEPS/FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS:
 Based on the successful deliberations during the consultative meeting, the following
recommendations and next steps were agreed upon:
1. Training of Key Staff in County Assemblies: Collaboratively develop training
programs for key staff members, including Clerks of the Finance and Budget
Committees and fiscal analysts, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of their
roles and mandates. Focus on analyzing and scrutinizing the Finance Act, particularly
in projecting realistic own-source revenue for county budgets.
2. Timely Passage of Finance Bills: Provide training to County Assembly Finance and
Budget Committees to ensure that Finance Bills are passed concurrently or prior to
Appropriation Bills. Ensure alignment with fiscal frameworks outlined in Budget
Policy Statements and County Fiscal Strategy Papers.
3. Efficient Public Wage Management: Conduct training for County Assemblies Service
Boards to ensure effective public wage management in line with guidelines from the
Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
4. Enhanced Parliamentary Scrutiny and Review: Provide guidance to Sectoral
Committees, Liaison Committees, and Budget and Appropriations Committees on the
importance of rigorous scrutiny, review, and approval of budget-related documents.
Highlight the significance of gender, climate change, civic education, and public
participation in governance.
5. Strengthening the Role of Public Accounts and Investment Committee: Enable the
Public Accounts and Investment Committee to thoroughly scrutinize reports from the
Office of the Auditor General. Encourage partnerships with Non-Governmental
Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, and think tanks to inform discussions
during the review and approval of Assembly reports.
IV. IV. KEY OBSERVATIONS/REMARKS:
 The consultative meeting led to several key observations and remarks:
1. The need for targeted training programs to ensure continuity and institutional
memory, especially considering the high turnover of elected representatives every
five years.
2. The importance of synchronization between the passage of Finance Bills and
Appropriation Bills to maintain budget coherence.
3. The value of adhering to SRC guidelines for efficient public wage management,
ensuring transparency and fairness.
V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF NEXT STEPS/FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS:
 The following next steps and follow-up actions were outlined to implement the
recommendations:
1. Develop customized training modules for key staff and committees, ensuring
practical knowledge transfer.
2. Create a timeline for the simultaneous passage of Finance Bills and Appropriation
Bills, aligning with fiscal frameworks.
3. Facilitate training sessions for County Assemblies Service Boards on public wage
management.
4. Develop guidelines for enhanced parliamentary scrutiny and approval processes,
emphasizing gender, climate change, and civic education.
.
5. Establish mechanisms for collaboration with external stakeholders to enrich
discussions during the review and approval of Assembly reports.
VI. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, LESSONS LEARNED, AND PARTNERSHIP
POSSIBILITIES:
 The networking activities during the meeting led to the emergence of valuable insights,
lessons learned, and partnership possibilities:
1. Sharing experiences and challenges highlighted the importance of targeted training to
address specific needs within county assemblies.
2. Lessons were learned regarding the significance of timely budget-related bill passage
to maintain fiscal discipline.
3. Partnerships with external organizations can enrich discussions and enhance the
quality of review and approval processes.

This back-to-office report summarizes the outcomes of the consultative meeting and outlines
the recommended next steps and follow-up actions for collaboration between the County
Assemblies Forum and the Public Finance Management Reforms Secretariat. The cooperative
efforts are expected to strengthen financial management practices within county assemblies
and contribute to effective governance and fiscal responsibility.