After snubbing MPs 16 times, Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo finally appeared before a parliamentary committee to answer audit queries on various funds under his purview.
Dr Kiptoo who appeared before the National Assembly Special Funds Accounts Committee had to apologise for his no show in previous invites telling lawmakers that his docket makes him the “busiest PS”, hence urged the MPs to understand the nature of his work.
“It is very unfortunate that this impression was created that I failed to appear before this committee. I want to assure you that I will be available when you call me. But also honourable members, I hope you all appreciate the work of PS Treasury. I’m the busiest person,” he told the committee.
The remarks did not go down well with the committee members, who accused Dr Kiptoo of ignoring the special funds committee while at the same time he is seen appearing in others such as the Finance and National Planning Committee.
“When you say you are busy while appearing before other committees, then it appears you are degrading this committee,” said North Imenti MP Hon Rahim Dawood who chaired Tuesday’s session.
“For two and half years, you have not appeared before this committee. Perhaps we should ask the appointing authority to remove these funds under you because it appears you are too busy to appear before us.”
Parliament. Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo appeared before the National Assembly Special Funds Accounts Committee on November 11, 2025 and had to apologise for his no show in previous invites.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo told the PS to delegate some work so that he is not busy all the time.
“I have not seen you for many years. In fact, I was asking myself, ‘how special is this person?’ You are not the only Kenyan who can do everything. Don’t suffocate with work just to be seen as busy,” she said.
Mr Dawood added that, “You cannot tell us you are busy but when the finance committee calls you, you go running. The way when they call you go running, do the same to us.”
He added, “When you were in trade, you were a good person but now you are too busy. Do you want us to talk to His Excellency to reduce the workload you have?”
Mbooni MP Erastus Kivasu said that the failure of the PS to appear before the committee has derailed its work on writing the report on the funds under his purview.
“This committee is yet to complete its work because the PS has previously failed to appear before us. Can he assure us that should we not finish the work today, he will be available when we call him again?” he asked.
“I saw Taifa Leo writing Mkubwa mkaidi and I was wondering who is this mkubwa and whether that was me. I have always appeared when called upon. I have a track record for that,” he argued.
However, the committee dismissed him, saying that the media reported accurately.
“In fact, we wanted the media to write more about it because it is a fact and we have letters that we have written to you,” Mr Kivasu told the PS.
Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo appears before the National Assembly’s Special Funds Accounts Committee at Bunge Tower, Nairobi, on November 11, 2025.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation
The meeting continued after the PS promised that he would, from now on, appear before the committee when requested.
Last month, members of the committee were furious when the PS failed to appear before them to answer questions about billions of shillings in funding allocated to 14 entities under his purview.
Prior to his appearance on Tuesday before the committee chaired by Migori Woman representative Fatuma Mohamed, the PS had not honoured a series of invites dating back to 2023.
The committee in October released a strongly worded statement accusing Dr Kiptoo of being a stumbling block in executing its mandate of scrutinising how public funds allocated to various entities under his control have been used.
The funds under Dr Kiptoo’s control are the Rural Enterprise Fund, Treasury Main clearance Fund, Kenya Local loans support Fund, Government Clearing Agency, Equalization Fund, African Union and Other International Organizations Subscription Fund, Provident Fund and the European Widows and Orphans Pensions Fund.
Others include Asian Officers Family Pensions Fund, Asiatic Widows and Orphans Pensions Fund, Contingencies Fund, Petroleum Development Levy Fund (Holding Account), Covid 19 Emergency Response Fund, and the Credit Guarantee Scheme.
