The Office of the Deputy President of Kenya is facing growing scrutiny from lawmakers over reported high expenditure on helicopter hires, with Members of Parliament demanding a full audit of spending patterns.
The matter was raised on April 9 before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is currently investigating pending bills amounting to KSh478 million owed to suppliers and service providers for the 2024/2025 financial year.
According to documents tabled before the committee, about KSh150 million of the pending bills is linked to helicopter hire services. Lawmakers further noted that one entry showed spending of KSh8.08 million in a single day for air transport services.
Committee members cited records indicating that the flights covered multiple destinations, including Tharaka Nithi, Laikipia, Isiolo, and Kitui, raising questions about the frequency and cost of the trips.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo questioned whether such expenditure levels were reasonable or justifiable under public finance rules.
“Many of the entries get to 3 to 4 million. Is it practical to spend 8 million in one day?” he asked, while calling for a detailed breakdown of the expenditure.
Concerns were also raised about whether some of the travel could be linked to personal visits, particularly trips to Tharaka Nithi, which is associated with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
However, the committee chair defended the office’s right to travel, stating: “The Deputy President has the right to go home and come back,” a remark that drew mixed reactions from lawmakers.
Beyond travel costs, MPs also flagged expenditure on hospitality services, including catering, staff costs, food, and fresh flowers, calling for tighter controls on public spending.
