By Perez Karisa, June 27, 2026
The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education has raised concerns over the payment of Sh2.8 million in irregular allowances by the Council of Legal Education (CLE), questioning whether the expenditure complied with constitutional and statutory requirements governing the use of public funds.
The issue emerged during a review of the Auditor-General’s report, where Members of Parliament faulted the council for paying examination-related allowances to examiners, invigilators and moderators without the approval of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
According to the committee, the allowances were processed outside the framework established by the SRC, which is constitutionally mandated to set and advise on remuneration and benefits for state officers and other public officers.
Committee members observed that the payments appeared to have been based on internally developed rates rather than officially approved government guidelines, raising concerns over the legality and accountability of the expenditure.
Lawmakers emphasized that no internal resolution by the council can override the Constitution or existing public finance laws governing the use of taxpayers’ money.
The committee also questioned the methodology used by the council to determine the rates paid to the examiners and other personnel involved in administering legal education assessments.
Members demanded a detailed explanation on how the figures were arrived at, who approved them, and whether the council sought guidance from the SRC before implementing the payments.
The MPs directed auditors to conduct a comprehensive verification of all the allowances by reconstructing the payments using the officially approved SRC rates.
The exercise, they said, will establish the exact amount, if any, that was paid above the legally authorized thresholds.
The committee further ordered that any funds found to have been disbursed in excess of approved government rates be fully recovered from the officers or beneficiaries responsible.
Lawmakers maintained that accountability for public resources must be upheld regardless of the institution involved, warning that failure to comply with constitutional provisions on remuneration exposes public entities to financial irregularities and unnecessary losses.
The Public Investments Committee is expected to continue scrutinizing the council’s financial records before making recommendations to the National Assembly on any administrative or legal action that may be required.
