Kenyan parliamentary committees warn officials over public fund management

Kenyan parliamentary committees have issued warnings to various government officials regarding the management of public funds. The Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Tindi Mwale, cautioned Principal Secretaries that they must take personal responsibility for the resources within their departments. During a review of Auditor-General reports for the State Departments of Investment Promotion and Trade, the committee emphasized that accounting officers will be held personally accountable if funds are lost due to negligence or legal failures.

Simultaneously, the National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education warned that accounting officers at Technical and Vocational Colleges (TVCs) could face liability for spending without approved budgets. Following an examination of reports for several institutions, including Emgwen TVC, MP Dick Maungu noted that spending without an approved budget constitutes ineligible expenditure. The committee also raised concerns regarding the failure to publish procurement contracts and the lack of documented proof for reserving procurement opportunities for youth, women, and persons with disabilities.