The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance on Tuesday, April 21, met Principals from eight Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to examine audit queries flagged by the Auditor-General over four years
The institutions that appeared before the committee are Mbeere North, Runyenjes, Manyatta, Yatta, Nuu, Ikutha, Rhamu and Lafey Technical and Vocational Colleges.
The session, chaired by Bumula MP Wanami Wamboka focused on Auditor-General’s reports spanning the 2021/2022 to 2024/2025 financial years with lawmakers seeking accountability over the use of public funds and adherence to financial regulations.
Wamboka said the committee’s mandate is to ensure prudent utilisation of public resources and transparency in state-funded institutions.
“We are interrogating these audit reports to establish whether public funds allocated to these institutions were utilised for their intended purposes and in accordance with the law,” said Wamboka.
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He added that the committee will not hesitate to recommend appropriate action where irregularities are established.
“Any cases of financial mismanagement, unsupported expenditure or procurement irregularities will be addressed in line with parliamentary oversight responsibilities,” he said.
During the session, members of the committee raised concerns over recurrent audit issues, including unsupported expenditures, delays in project implementation, and weaknesses in internal controls within some of the institutions.
Committee members pressed the college administrators to provide documentation and explanations to justify queried expenditures and to outline measures taken to address audit recommendations.
“It is not enough to receive audit queries year after year. We expect these institutions to take corrective action and demonstrate improved financial discipline,” Kilome MP Thaddeus Nzambia observed.
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Officials from the colleges defended their records citing challenges such as delayed disbursement of funds and capacity gaps but assured the committee of ongoing efforts to strengthen financial management systems.
The committee is expected to compile its findings and table a report in the National Assembly with recommendations including possible sanctions against officials found culpable of financial impropriety.
By Juma Ndigo
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