(4) The Clerk to the county assembly shall be the accounting officer of the county assembly. (5) A county government may, in order to promote efficient use of the county resources, adopt, subject to approval by the county assembly, a centralised county financial management service.

149. Responsibilities of accounting officers designated for county government entities (1) An accounting officer is accountable to the county assembly for ensuring that the resources of the entity for which the officer is designated are used in a way that is— (a) lawful and authorised; and (b) effective, efficient, economical and transparent.

(2) In carrying out a responsibility imposed by subsection (1), an accounting officer shall, in respect of the entity concerned— (a) ensure that all expenditure made by the entity complies with subsection (1); (b) ensure that the entity keeps financial and accounting records that comply with this Act; (c) ensure that all financial and accounting records that the entity keeps in any form including in electronic form are adequately protected and backed up; (d) ensure that all contracts entered into by the entity are lawful and are complied with; (e) ensure that all applicable accounting procedures are followed when acquiring or disposing of goods and services and that, in the case of goods, adequate arrangements are made for their custody, safe guarding and maintenance; (f) bring a matter to the attention of the County Executive Committee member responsible for the entity if, in the accounting officer’s opinion a decision or policy or proposed decision or policy of the entity may result in resources being used in a way that is contrary to subsection (1); (g) prepare a strategic plan for the entity in conformity with the medium term fiscal framework and financial objectives of the county government; (h) prepare estimates of expenditure of the entity in conformity with the strategic plan referred to in paragraph (g); (i) submit the estimates of an entity, which is not a county corporation, to the County Executive Committee member for finance; 95 No. 18 of 2012 Public Finance Management [Rev. 2020] (j) submit the estimates of an entity, which is a county corporation, to the executive committee member responsible for the entity who, after approving it, shall forward it to the County Executive Committee member for finance; (k) not later than three months after the end of each financial year, prepare annual financial statements for that financial year and submit them to the Auditor-General for audit, with a copy to the County Treasury; (l) try to resolve any issues resulting from an audit that remain outstanding; (m) manage the assets of the entity to ensure that it receives value for money when acquiring, using or disposing of its assets; (n) dispose of assets at the most competitive price and at the lowest

possible cost ensuring that the proceeds from all asset disposals are deposited in a bank account of the entity; (o) ensure that the respective county government entity has adequate systems and processes in place to plan for, procure, account for, maintain, store and dispose of assets, including an asset register that is current, accurate and available to the relevant County Treasury or the Auditor-General; (p) provide the County Treasury with any information it requires to fulfil its functions under this Act; (q) provide information on any frauds, losses, or any violations of subsection (1) and provide explanations for the actions taken to prevent similar conduct in future; and (r) carry out such other responsibilities as may be specified in regulations by the County Executive Committee member for finance.

(3) Not later than three months after the county assembly has adopted a report by a committee of the county assembly with respect to a report submitted by the Controller of Budget under Article 228(6) of the Constitution, an accounting officer shall, for each entity for which the officer is designated— (a) prepare a report on actions taken by the entity to implement any recommendations made in the committee’s report as adopted by the county assembly; and (b) submit the report to the county assembly with a copy to the County Treasury.

(4) Not later than one month after receiving a report by an accounting officer under subsection (3), the County Treasury shall submit to the county assembly the accounting officer’s report and any comments on the report by the County Treasury.

(5) The report referred to in subsection (3) shall be published and publicised. 150. Accounting officer of a county government entity may write off any loss

(1) An accounting officer for a county government entity may write off any loss not exceeding an amount, and in circumstances prescribed by regulations for the purposes of this section.

(2) An accounting officer for a county government entity, may with the approval of the County Executive Committee member for finance, write off a loss exceeding 96 [Rev. 2020] Public Finance Management No. 18 of 2012 the amount referred to in subsection (1) but not exceeding a further amount, and in circumstances prescribed by the regulations approved by Parliament.

(3) The County Executive Committee member for finance may with the approval of County Executive Committee authorise an accounting officer to write off a loss exceeding the further amount referred to in subsection (2).