Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo Denies Claims of Snubbing Parliamentary Committee

 

 National Treasury Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo has strongly refuted claims that he has ignored summons from Parliament, dismissing reports that he skipped 16 appearances before the National Assembly’s Special Funds Accounts Committee as inaccurate and misleading.

In a statement issued on Friday, Dr. Kiptoo emphasized his unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and parliamentary oversight, asserting that he and his office have remained actively engaged with various oversight bodies.

“The allegations do not reflect the reality of our engagement with Parliament,” he said. “I have consistently appeared before multiple parliamentary committees to respond to audit queries, including those concerning the e-Citizen platform.”

Dr. Kiptoo clarified that on occasions when he is unable to personally attend committee sessions due to conflicting official duties, he appoints senior Treasury officials to represent him—an approach fully in line with established parliamentary procedure.

“These matters concern the office of the Principal Secretary, not Dr. Kiptoo as an individual. The National Treasury is staffed by a capable team well-equipped to handle such engagements,” he added.

The PS also expressed concern over what he described as sensationalized media coverage, arguing that such reports risk distorting public perception of his office’s dedication to open governance.

Treasury officials echoed his sentiments, dismissing the reported number of missed sessions as exaggerated. They highlighted Dr. Kiptoo’s longstanding record of cooperation with oversight institutions and his hands-on approach to public finance management.

Providing examples, Dr. Kiptoo noted that on October 8, 2025—one of the dates cited in the reports—he was meeting with senior officials from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) at the Treasury headquarters in Nairobi. A day earlier, he had participated in the Special Development Partners Roundtable, also in Nairobi, as part of Kenya’s engagement with international financial partners.

“These engagements are crucial to our mandate of mobilizing development support and strengthening financial governance,” he explained.

Dr. Kiptoo emphasized that his occasional absences should not be misconstrued as disregard for Parliament. He reaffirmed his respect for the legislature and full support for its oversight function.

“Our books are open, and we are ready to engage. There is absolutely nothing to hide regarding the management of special funds,” he said.

He further pointed out that many of the funds currently under audit relate to financial years prior to his tenure, including 2017/2018. Nevertheless, he said, the Treasury continues to work on strengthening compliance and transparency mechanisms across all departments.

Reaffirming the Treasury’s commitment to accountability, Dr. Kiptoo concluded: “We operate with integrity and transparency, guided by the principles of good governance. Oversight is not only welcome—it is essential to safeguarding public resources.”