National Treasury Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo in his Office. Photo Courtesy. 
By Andrew Mbuva
The National Assembly’s Special Funds Accounts Committee has directed National Treasury Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo to appear before it on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, after he repeatedly failed to honour its invitations.
The Committee, which oversees the management and accountability of special funds, expressed frustration over what it termed a “consistent display of disregard” for parliamentary authority by the PS, who has allegedly failed to appear before the Committee sixteen times since March 2023.
During a tense session chaired by Vice-Chairperson Rahim Dawood, members resolved to issue a formal summons compelling Dr. Kiptoo’s attendance to address audit queries relating to 14 funds under his docket.
The audit reports in question date as far back as the 2017/2018 Financial Year, raising concerns over prolonged accountability lapses.
“The Principal Secretary, National Treasury, has failed to appear before the Committee that oversights funds under his purview sixteen times,” Dawood stated. “This is a clear act of disregard for the oversight authority of Parliament.”
According to the Committee, Dr. Kiptoo’s absences have consistently been accompanied by explanations deemed unsatisfactory, often citing official engagements elsewhere.
At the latest meeting, two directors from the National Treasury and the CEO of the Equalization Fund attended in his place, informing members that the PS was currently on official duty in Washington, D.C.
However, the explanation did little to appease lawmakers, who questioned the PS’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
Mbooni MP Erastus Kivasu noted that Dr. Kiptoo’s continued absence, coupled with inadequate communication, signaled a worrying trend of non-cooperation from senior government officials.
In response, Dawood read out the full list of sixteen previous invitations that went unheeded, reiterating that Parliament would no longer tolerate such conduct.
Citing Standing Order 191, he reminded members that Committees of the House are empowered to summon any person to appear and give evidence. He further invoked Section 191(A), which authorizes Parliament to impose fines of up to KShs. 500,000 on individuals who fail to comply with a formal summons.
A report tabled before the Committee revealed that the PS is responsible for 14 key funds with pending audit backlogs. These include the Equalization Fund, Petroleum Development Levy Fund, European Widows and Orphans Pensions Fund, and the Credit Guarantee Scheme, among others.
Dawood disclosed that while the Committee has reviewed audit reports for 50 special funds, the 14 overseen by the National Treasury remain unresolved primarily due to the PS’s persistent absenteeism.
Members of the Committee unanimously agreed that Dr. Kiptoo must appear in person to respond to the outstanding queries, warning that continued non-compliance would amount to obstruction of parliamentary oversight.
“The National Assembly has a constitutional obligation to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public resources,” Hon. Dawood affirmed. “We expect every accounting officer to respect that mandate. The era of ignoring Parliament is over.”
The Committee’s decision now sets the stage for a potentially confrontational session next month, as legislators prepare to press the Treasury PS on years of unresolved audit issues tied to billions of shillings in public funds.
