Controller of Budget blames misuse of public funds for the rising cost of living

Speaking during a public participation forum organised by Bunge La Mwananchi at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi, Nyakang’o said citizens must take responsibility for holding elected leaders accountable for how they manage public funds.

The forum provided an opportunity for Kenyans to raise concerns about government spending, service delivery and the management of public resources.

Participants questioned why the rising cost of basic commodities had not eased despite government interventions, including subsidised fertiliser.

Cynthia Akoth, a member of Bunge La Mwananchi, questioned the impact of the fertiliser subsidy on the cost of maize flour and vegetables.

"We were told that the price of fertiliser would bring down the price of flour. Previously, I used to buy a packet of flour at Ksh.70, but now it costs Ksh.120. Previously, three vegetables cost Ksh.10, but now one vegetable costs Ksh.10. Are we being robbed?" she posed.

Another participant, Jesinter Aluoch, raised concerns over delayed funding to universities, questioning the allocation of money for lecturers' salaries.

"When you prepare school budgets, don't you allocate money for lecturers? Students are not learning. What happens to the money that is supposed to be disbursed to universities?" she asked.

James Ayugi questioned the Ksh.300 fee charged to students applying for Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans, arguing that the amount could instead be deducted from the funds disbursed to applicants.

"Why are you charging me Ksh.300 to apply for a HELB loan? Why don't you deduct it from the Ksh.25,000 and send me Ksh.24,700?" he asked.

In response, Nyakang’o challenged Kenyans to demand answers from leaders they elect, saying public accountability begins with citizens questioning how those entrusted with power use public resources.

"If you do not ask those who you donated power to on why the cost of unga and mboga has gone high, then you are failing. Talk to your leaders," she said.

She warned that continued wastage of public resources would worsen the economic burden on taxpayers, urging citizens to speak out and demand action against those responsible.

"As long as we are continuing to waste, the more the cost of living will rise. Do not sit back and complain. Stand up and be counted. If we solve the issue of wastage, we will be in a better place. Very soon, you will see some of these people in jail," Nyakang’o stated.

Meanwhile, Auditor General Nancy Gathongo said her office was yet to audit funds allocated to the El Niño response and compensation for victims of demonstrations, noting that the transactions were still ongoing.

Gathongo said the audit would be conducted after the 2026/2027 financial year, when the allocation and utilisation of the funds would have been completed.

"We have not audited because the transactions are still taking place. The funds are still being allocated and appropriated for El Niño. That is still ongoing. We will audit after the 2026/2027 financial year. However, the Controller of Budget gets quarterly reports. We will look at them, but it is still premature to audit," she said.