EDITORIAL: Public funds oversight paramount, but should not be abused

Public funds are not private property. Whether spent by ministries in Nairobi or by county executives on devolved functions, every shilling must be subject to rigorous scrutiny.

The constitution envisioned oversight as a safeguard, not a weapon. Institutions such as the Senate of Kenya and the National Assembly of Kenya were designed to check excesses, protect devolution, and ensure value for money. Weakening that framework—by design or default—invites waste and impunity.

At the same time, claims by governors that oversight processes are sometimes abused for extortion should not be casually dismissed. Such allegations have surfaced before, including concerns raised publicly about members of Parliament.

Oversight loses legitimacy when it is distorted into rent-seeking. If extortion rings exist, they undermine both democracy and devolution.

The answer, however, is not to retreat from scrutiny. It is to deepen it—professionally, transparently and within clear rules. Oversight hearings should be evidence-based and time-bound, while investigators must follow credible complaints wherever they lead.

Those found guilty of extortion should face swift punishment, just as officials who misuse public funds should be held to account.

Accountability is not optional. It is the price of public trust—and the foundation of effective government.