Parliament has put the Kenya School of Government (KSG) on the spot over repeated financial and governance concerns raised by the Auditor-General between 2017 and 2021.
The Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture (PIC-SSAA), chaired by Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe, said it was unacceptable that the same audit issues kept appearing year after year.
“KSG plays a central role in shaping our civil service, and its operations must be above reproach,” Wangwe said.
Among the concerns raised were unsupported expenses of Sh8.8 million in 2019, where payments were made without vouchers. While KSG said documentation had since been provided, the Auditor-General said the explanations were still unsatisfactory.
The institution was also questioned over unsupported receivables of more than Sh1.1 billion and unexplained credit balances of Sh104 million. The Committee insisted on full disclosure, despite KSG citing its internal policy of an 11% provision and ongoing reconciliations.
Other issues flagged included Sh2.3 million in staff remittance discrepancies in 2020, Sh8 million in unsupported spending on advertising, hospitality, accommodation, and security services, as well as irregular allowances worth Sh4 million paid to individuals not formally recognized as council members.
Recruitment practices were also criticized after KSG advertised 23 vacancies for only 15 days in 2020, falling short of the 21-day minimum set by the Public Service Commission. MPs demanded the institution align its processes with PSC rules.
The Committee further raised concerns over delays in construction projects, incomplete land ownership documents, budget underspending of Sh228.7 million in 2021, and long-term employment of casual workers.
KSG Chief Executive Officer Prof. Nura Mohamed defended the institution, saying some of the challenges were due to system changes. He added that KSG is now migrating to an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to improve accountability.
Prof. Mohamed also pointed to progress, noting that revenue grew from Sh1.7 billion to Sh2.1 billion in 2023/24 and that rent collection had improved through payroll deductions and advance payments.
The Committee gave KSG three weeks to provide all pending documents, after which the Auditor-General will have one week to verify the information before reporting back to Parliament.
MPs also welcomed KSG’s proposal to ring-fence national training budgets through the Ministry of Public Service, saying this could strengthen financial management.
“The message is clear,” Wangwe said. “We expect timely compliance, full transparency, and strict adherence to financial law.”
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
