MPs will no longer be permitted to lease constituency or county offices in buildings they own, properties owned by their relatives or offices belonging to their political parties.
This is among tough new regulations aimed at tightening accountability in the management of offices run by MPs.
They are contained in the Parliamentary Service (Constituency and County Offices) Regulations, 2026, gazetted by the Parliamentary Service Commission.
The rules introduce a new governance framework covering office leasing, financial management, staffing, procurement and the transition of offices after elections.
The regulations revoke the Parliamentary Service (Constituency Offices) Regulations of 2005 that have governed MPs' offices for two decades.
The new rules seek to close conflict-of-interest loopholes that have existed in the management of constituency offices and provide safeguards for public funds.
In the rules, MPs are prohibited from identifying or occupying offices located in properties they own or in which they have a financial interest.
"A member may only identify or occupy an office under these regulations where the proposed office is not located in a building owned by that member or a relative of the member, a building in which the member or a member of staff assigned to the member has a direct financial interest,” the rules read.
It further lists a political party's office and, or a residence of the Member of Parliament.
The restrictions mean lawmakers cannot benefit directly or indirectly from public money allocated for constituency office rent.
Before renting any office, an MP must first identify suitable premises that are secure, accessible to constituents and within rent limits prescribed by the commission.
The MP must then obtain a public health inspection report certifying the premises are fit for occupation.
A structural inspection report from the county public works department, a valuation report from a government valuer confirming the market rent and a draft lease agreement would also be required.
The Clerk of Parliament must verify the documents and authorise the lease before rent is paid.
Even after approval, lease agreements will no longer be signed personally by MPs.
Instead, the constituency or county office manager, with the approval of the MP, will execute the lease and submit it to the clerk for custody.
Beyond office leasing, the regulations also seek to strengthen financial controls.
Each constituency office will operate an approved commercial bank account whose mandatory signatory will be the constituency or county office manager.
Two other staff members appointed by the MP would be signatories, too.
In further measures, the office will only receive subsequent allocations after accounting for previous disbursements.
The clerk has also been granted sweeping powers to intervene where public funds are suspected to have been misused.
“Where the commission has reasonable grounds to believe that funds allocated and disbursed to a constituency or county office have been misappropriated or used in contravention of the prescribed guidelines, the clerk may take appropriate action as necessary."
The regulations state that such action may include freezing the constituency or county office's financial accounts, suspending any further disbursement of funds, and recovering misappropriated funds through legal means.
Affected offices will be given seven days to explain why action should not be taken.
For the first time, the regulations also prescribe minimum qualifications for key personnel handling public funds.
Constituency office managers must possess at least a diploma and five years' relevant experience, while accounts assistants must hold an accountant's technician diploma.
Procurement assistants must possess a diploma in procurement or supply chain management and be registered with the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management.
Every elected MP will be required to employ a constituency or county office manager, an accounts assistant, a procurement assistant and at least two security guards, among other staff.
Office managers will also assume more responsibilities, including managing office bank accounts, administering lease agreements, accounting for public funds and responding to audit queries.
They are to also ensure statutory deductions are remitted to relevant government agencies on time.
The regulations further establish transition arrangements after elections.
Certain officers, including the constituency office manager, procurement officer, two bank signatories and security guards, will remain in office until a new MP is sworn in to ensure continuity.
Outgoing MPs will be required to vacate constituency offices within seven working days after the gazettement of their successors.
Outgoing office managers must also prepare a detailed handover report containing an inventory of Parliamentary Service Commission assets and bank account transactions.
Where unexplained liabilities are discovered, the regulations provide that such liabilities may be recovered from the office manager's gratuity or final dues.
According to the explanatory memorandum accompanying the regulations, the reforms were prompted by weaknesses in the previous framework.
The old rules were deemed to have inadequate safeguards surrounding office lease agreements, rent ceilings and poor end-of-term office handovers.
