The Office of the Deputy President is under scrutiny over reported substantial daily expenditures on hiring helicopters, following concerns raised by lawmakers on April 9.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has launched an inquiry into pending bills amounting to Ksh478 million owed to suppliers and service providers for the 2024/2025 financial year.
Documents presented before the committee indicate that approximately Ksh150 million of that amount was spent on hiring choppers.
Committee members reviewed expenditure records showing that Deputy President Kithuri Kindiki spent up to Ksh8 million on helicopter services
“There is a particular entry for a chopper to Tharaka Nithi, Laikipia, Isiolo and Kitui, which shows Ksh 8.08 million in one day,” said Rarieda Member of Parliament Otiende Amollo.
Amollo questioned the practicality of such expenditure levels, asking whether it was justifiable to spend such amounts within a single day using public funds.
“Many of the entries get to 3 to 4 million. Is it practical to spend 8 million in one day?” he added. The committee also raised concerns about the frequency of trips linked to Kindiki’s home county of Tharaka Nithi.
Lawmakers questioned whether public resources were being used to facilitate personal travel, particularly in cases where trips were not tied to official engagements.
In response, Committee chair Tindi Mwale said, “The deputy president has the right to go home and come back.”
In addition to travel expenditure, lawmakers also examined spending on hospitality, including catering services, staff, food and fresh flowers.
The committee emphasised the need to ensure accountability and assess value for money in the use of taxpayer resources.
The PAC also flagged the absence of a functioning audit committee, which is essential for ensuring accountability in public institutions. It demanded that the office submit detailed documentation within a week, including a breakdown of how the Ksh8 million was spent.
The Office of the Deputy President said it is working with the National Treasury to address budgetary constraints and reduce pending bills. Further, the office said it will work on future strategies to improve expenditure management.
The query is part of broader concerns over budget priorities and financial management within Kindiki’s office. It comes amid widespread public concern over rising debt and budget levels and the high cost of living.
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