Questions have emerged over how public funds are being used in the Office of the Deputy President, after lawmakers raised concerns about high spending on helicopter travel and other services.
The issue came up during a session with the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, where officials were asked to explain pending bills amounting to Ksh.478 million for the 2024/25 financial year.
A large part of the pending bills is linked to helicopter use, with the office owing about Ksh.150 million to service providers.
Lawmakers expressed concern over the cost of these flights, with some records showing that as much as Ksh.8 million was spent in a single day on chopper services.
The expenditure has been associated with the movements of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, raising questions about whether the spending is justified.
Members of the committee sought to understand whether such costs reflect value for money for taxpayers.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo pointed to records of multiple trips across different counties and questioned the reasonableness of the daily cost.
“There is an entry here for chopper use from Tharaka, Laikipia, Isiolo, Tharaka, Kitui… for Ksh.8 million a day… is it reasonable?” he asked.
Further concerns were raised about the frequency of trips to Tharaka Nithi County, which is the Deputy President’s home area. Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo questioned whether it was necessary for the Deputy President to make repeated visits to the same location. “Kipipiri, Tharaka, Tharaka, Tharaka… can the Deputy President work in one village?” he posed.
Despite the criticism, the committee’s chairperson Tindi Mwale defended the Deputy President’s right to travel, noting that he is entitled to visit his home area. “The DP has a right to go home… yes, he is the Deputy President,” Mwale stated.
Even so, lawmakers continued to push for clear answers, insisting that the cost of such travel must be justified. Otiende Amollo maintained that the key concern was whether it is practical to spend such a large amount in a single day, urging officials to address that issue directly.
The session also turned attention to other areas of spending within the office. The Deputy President’s Principal Administrative Secretary, Moses Mbaruku, was questioned over expenditure on hospitality.
This included costs related to catering services, fresh flowers, and food supplies, which lawmakers said also needed proper explanation.
The concerns raised highlight ongoing scrutiny by Parliament over public spending, as legislators continue to demand accountability and transparency in how government offices use taxpayer funds.
