National Treasury Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo has
dismissed claims that he has repeatedly failed to appear before the National
Assembly’s Special Funds Accounts Committee, reaffirming his office’s full
commitment to transparency, accountability, and parliamentary oversight.
In a statement issued on Friday, Dr. Kiptoo said reports
alleging that he had snubbed the committee sixteen times were misleading and
failed to reflect the reality of his engagement with Parliament.
He emphasized that he has consistently appeared before
various parliamentary committees to respond to audit queries, including those
related to the e-Citizen platform.
He explained that on occasions when official commitments
prevent him from personally attending a committee session, he delegates senior
officers from the National Treasury to represent the office, as allowed under
parliamentary procedures.
“These are issues concerning the office of the Principal
Secretary, not Dr. Kiptoo as an individual. The National Treasury has a
competent team fully capable of addressing such matters,” he said.
Dr. Kiptoo expressed concern over what he described as
sensational and inaccurate media reports portraying him as uncooperative or
evasive.
He noted that such reports were not only unfair but also
risked misleading the public about his commitment to transparency.
Treasury officials who spoke on the matter described the
reports as exaggerated and noted that the PS had a strong record of cooperation
with oversight institutions.
The PS also clarified that on some of the dates cited as
absences, he had been engaged in official Treasury work.
On October 8, 2025,
for instance, he met senior officials from the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD) at Treasury headquarters in Nairobi.
The previous day, he attended the Special Development
Partners Roundtable, also in Nairobi, as part of ongoing consultations with
Kenya’s international financial partners.
He said such engagements are part of his wider mandate to
strengthen financial governance and mobilize development support for the
country.
Dr. Kiptoo stressed that his absence from certain sessions
should not be interpreted as defiance or disrespect toward Parliament. He
reiterated that he holds Parliament in high regard and fully supports its
oversight role.
“Our books are open, and we are ready to engage,” he said.
“There is absolutely nothing to hide regarding the management of special
funds.”
The Principal Secretary emphasized that the National
Treasury remains fully accountable and continues to cooperate with oversight
agencies, including the Auditor-General and Parliament, to ensure proper
management of public finances.
He added that many of the funds currently under review date
back to the 2017/2018 financial year, a period before he assumed his current
position, and that efforts are ongoing to strengthen transparency and
compliance mechanisms across all departments.
Dr. Kiptoo reaffirmed that the National Treasury operates
with integrity and openness, guided by the principles of good governance and
responsible financial management.
He said the
institution welcomes oversight as part of its broader mission to ensure that
all public resources are managed prudently and in the interest of citizens.
“We have nothing to conceal. Oversight is welcome, and
collaboration is essential to safeguard public resources,” he said.
The statement comes amid growing public scrutiny of
government spending and renewed calls for stronger accountability across state
departments.
