Government spending on media contracts is once again under the spotlight. Members of Parliament are raising tough questions about a controversial advertising deal that has seen taxpayers lose millions.
At the center of the storm is Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Stephen Isaboke, who admitted that the Government Advertising Agency (GAA) is paying Ksh9 million every week to a single local newspaper. While the PS insists the deal saves the state money, lawmakers argue it reeks of irregularities and poor value for citizens.
MPs Expose 9M Weekly Payout Scandal Tied to A Shoddy Government Advertising Deal
When PS Stephen Isaboke appeared before the Committee on Information, Communication and Innovation, he struggled to justify the hefty payments. He told MPs that GAA was paying Ksh9 million weekly to advertise the government’s MyGov publication.
He defended the contract, saying it represented a cost-saving measure. Under the previous arrangement, the government spent Ksh24.5 million weekly to publish MyGov across four newspapers. According to him, the new deal saved the state Ksh15.5 million weekly, translating to a 63.26 percent reduction in spending.
“Overall, the government was spending Ksh1.19 billion versus Ksh432 million currently, resulting in a saving of Ksh758 million. Therefore, value for money is clearly demonstrated,” Isaboke told the committee.
But MPs were unconvinced. They pointed out that dividing the old Ksh24.5 million by four newspapers meant each cost roughly Ksh6.1 million per week, which is still lower than the current Ksh9 million paid to one paper.
Mbooni MP Erastus Kivasu pressed the PS further. “You are saving while spending that amount on one newspaper only. Initially, four newspapers would carry MyGov, and I believe circulation was way higher back then compared to now. So you save at the expense of what?” he asked.
The lawmakers said the arrangement looked suspicious. They questioned whether the deal was structured to benefit a private entity rather than the public.
MPs Doubt Circulation Numbers
One of the most contentious issues raised was whether Kenyans are even getting value for the Ksh9 million weekly deal. Lawmakers highlighted that circulation numbers for the single newspaper have been falling, meaning fewer citizens may be seeing the MyGov publication.
Committee chair John Kiarie raised alarms about how GAA tracks distribution. Isaboke revealed that the agency relies on a list of deliveries signed and stamped by the Postal Corporation of Kenya and a private company to verify compliance.
This admission drew sharp criticism. MPs said such a system is outdated, prone to manipulation, and impossible to independently verify.
“How do we ensure there is a more digitized measure to track circulation? You have said you use the post office to record, and I think it is now time to step up and go digital,” Kiarie argued.
He went further, warning that it is dangerous to trust circulation numbers provided by the very newspaper being paid. “It is not right to rely on the newspaper, which you are their client, to tell you how many issues they circulate every Tuesday. They could inflate or deflate the figures to suit themselves,” Kiarie said.
MPs Push for Digital Accountability
The committee is now demanding sweeping reforms. Lawmakers want GAA to shift from manual verification to a digital monitoring system. They argued that without digital oversight, taxpayers’ money will continue to flow unchecked into questionable contracts.
MPs also urged the PS to set up a clear monitoring and evaluation framework. They insisted the current deal could not be justified without transparent circulation audits and proof of reach.
Behind the fiery exchanges lies a broader concern. With billions spent on government advertising each year, weak systems and vague contracts expose taxpayers to exploitation. The Ksh9 million weekly deal has now become a symbol of a deeper problem within GAA, where oversight appears lacking and accountability remains weak.
For ordinary Kenyans, the issue goes beyond numbers. It is about whether their money is being used responsibly to communicate public policy or simply enrich connected players in the media industry.
Until GAA reforms how it evaluates contracts, MPs warn that every shilling spent will remain suspect. And with Ksh9 million flowing out every week, the stakes could not be higher.
