MPs Put Kenya Law Reform Commission on Spot Over Sh2.1mn Unauthorised Spending

NAIROBI, Kenya Aug 12 – Members of Parliament have put the Kenya Law Reform Commission (KLRC) on the spot over millions of shillings in expenditure that was not approved by the commission, with the Auditor-General warning that the institution failed to follow budget reallocation procedures. The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education questioned KLRC officials over audit queries relating to the 2018/19 to 2024/25 financial years, focusing on expenditure on commission activities and repairs and maintenance. According to the Auditor-General’s report, KLRC spent Sh20.6 million against an approved budget of about Sh18.5 million on commission expenses, resulting in an over-expenditure of Sh2.1 million, or 11 per cent.

The commission also spent about Sh3 million against an approved budget of Sh2.6 million on repairs and maintenance, resulting in an excess expenditure of about Sh400,000, or 15 per cent. The Auditor-General’s Director of Audit Margaret Wambui told the committee that the additional expenditure had not been subjected to the necessary approval by the commission. “The main issue here is just about the budget reallocation, which they did not do,” Ms Wambui said.

She explained that KLRC should have sought approval for budget reallocation from the commissioners before moving funds between expenditure lines. The matter sparked a heated exchange between committee members and KLRC officials, who maintained that the overall expenditure of the commission remained within its approved budget. Former acting KLRC Secretary/CEO Justice Peter Muneeno Musyimi said the apparent over-expenditure arose from the reclassification of expenditure between the secretariat and commission accounts following recommendations made during the audit.

He said the commission’s total approved budget for the year was about Sh292.66 million, while its actual expenditure was approximately Sh291.99 million, meaning the institution had remained within its overall budget ceiling. However, MPs rejected the explanation, insisting that the committee was examining the specific expenditure lines flagged by the Auditor-General and not the commission’s overall budget. Luanda MP Dick Maungu, who chairs the committee, said the issue was whether expenditure beyond approved allocations had been incurred without proper authorisation.

“You have indicated that the entire …