This archive report was first published on 30 September 2019.
On September 30, 2019, a Bill was introduced in the National Assembly that could make it difficult for the Auditor General to detect theft and misuse of funds allocated to Parliament.
The proposed legislation, known as the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) (No 3) Bill, 2019, seeks to create a parliamentary fund that would be administered by an officer appointed by the Parliamentary Service Commission.
The Bill, sponsored by Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni, would allow MPs to budget and spend funds allocated to them without oversight from institutions such as the Auditor General and the Controller of Budget.
According to the Bill, the parliamentary fund would be used for administrative purposes, and rules for its regulation would be developed by Parliament.
However, critics argue that the Bill would set a bad precedent for other institutions and would allow MPs to escape scrutiny for their expenditure.
Gerishon Ikiara, an economist, stated, 'There must be a good reason why Parliament does not want to operate the way other institutions operate. Creating a parliamentary fund would set a bad precedent for other institutions. Lawmakers should be satisfied with what is there.'
