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Tuesday, 28 July 2026
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Tuesday, 28 July 2026
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Kenyan press · Organization

Controller of Budget

Also known as: CoB

Controller of Budget — constitutional office that monitors government spending and reports on budget implementation across Kenya's public sector.

2026-04-282026-07-28
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In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. July 2026

  2. Citizen Digital

    WATCH LIVE: Senate Committee meets Controller of Budget and Auditor-General on public debt By Citizen Reporter July 28, 2026 12:31 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize

    Senate Committee meets Controller of Budget and Auditor-General on public debt

  3. Citizen Digital

    … Nor is this a problem confined to the national government.For years, reports from the Controller of Budget and the Auditor-General have repeatedly highlighted payroll anomalies within county governments, including payments outside approved payroll systems, irregular recruitment, …

    BONYO'S BONE: When wage bill eats wage bill

  4. Citizen Digital

    … PHOTO/FILE Audio By Vocalize By Mwangi Maina The latest report by the Controller of Budget on County Governments Budget Implementation shows the average pay for a Member of the County Assembly (MCA) sitting allowance in the County Assembly of Embu stands at Ksh.134,577. …

    MCAs pocket hefty perks in Ksh.1 billion sitting allowance bonanza
  5. June 2026

  6. The Standard

    … The County Budget Implementation Review Report by the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang’o, reveals that counties spent Sh13.17 billion on domestic and foreign travel in the first nine months of the 2025/26 financial year — money that could have equipped hundreds of health fa …

    Spending spree: Counties spend Sh13b on travel as major projects stall, bills mount

  7. The Standard

    … The County Budget Implementation Review Report by the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang’o, reveals that counties spent Sh13.17 billion on domestic and foreign travel in the first nine months of the 2025/26 financial year — money that could have equipped hundreds of health fa …

    Spending spree: Counties splash billions on travel, allowances and international meetings

  8. The Standard

    … ys Wanga, account for the development funds and the status of the projects. “Failure by the County Executive to respond by publishing and making public the reports on these matters within seven days, we shall petition the Senate, EACC, Auditor General and the Controller of Budget …

    MCAs want Governor Wanga to account for Sh1b ward projects

  9. The Standard

    … The National Assembly committee on Finance and Planning has recommended that any withdrawals from the Fund should require approval from the Controller of Budget (COB) and Parliament to ensure proper oversight of government spending. …

    Parliament seeks bigger say in control of Kenya's Sovereign Wealth Fund

  10. Citizen Digital

    … He further noted that the court dismissed applications filed by the former Auditor General, former Controller of Budget, the current Auditor General and the current Controller of Budget seeking to be excluded from the proceedings. …

    Kenya's public debt case set for full hearing after Court rejects Attorney General petition

  11. The Standard

    … According to Wanjigi, the change weakened oversight mechanisms involving Parliament, the Controller of Budget (COB) and the Auditor-General. …

    How Kenya lost billions: Wanjigi links debt crisis to 2014 law change

  12. The Standard

    … Further, the judge barred the Controller of Budget (CoB) and all mandated public servants from approving any funding for the acquisition of external legal service. …

    Double blow as case on lawyers-government legal service engagement is delayed

Today

  1. Senate Committee meets budget and audit officials on debt

    A Senate Committee met with the Controller of Budget and the Auditor-General to discuss public debt.

    11 hours ago · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 2 July

  1. Cabinet orders DCI investigation into public sector payroll fraud

    The Cabinet has directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to probe payroll fraud across Kenya's public service. A sample audit of 12 out of 53 state departments revealed suspected payroll irregularities totaling Ksh.6.2 billion, highlighting systemic weaknesses in payroll management.

    2 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Wednesday 1 July

  1. MCAs exceed sitting allowance limits in nine-month budget cycle

    County Assemblies spent Ksh.1.12 billion on MCAs' sitting allowances against an approved budget of Ksh.2.02 billion over nine months, with Embu MCAs averaging Ksh.134,577 above the Salaries and Remuneration Commission limit of Ksh.124,800.

    1 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Monday 29 June

  1. Counties spend Sh13.17 billion on travel amid stalled projects

    County governments spent Sh13.17 billion on domestic and foreign travel in the first nine months of the 2025/26 financial year, according to the Controller of Budget's County Budget Implementation Review Report, while development projects remain abandoned and hospitals face funding shortages.

    29 June 2026 · The Standard →

  2. Counties spent 13.17 billion on travel while projects stalled

    A Controller of Budget report reveals county governments spent Sh13.17 billion on domestic and foreign travel in the first nine months of the 2025/26 financial year, while development projects remain abandoned and hospitals lack funding.

    29 June 2026 · The Standard →

Sunday 28 June

  1. Homa Bay MCAs demand accountability for unimplemented ward projects

    Eight MCAs in Homa Bay County have raised concerns that Sh1 billion in ward development projects allocated for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 financial years were not implemented, with only Agriculture Department projects fully completed, raising questions about fund accountability and irregularities in project implementation.

    28 June 2026 · The Standard →

Friday 26 June

  1. Parliament pushes for stricter oversight of Kenya's Sovereign Wealth Fund

    MPs are seeking tighter control over the proposed Kenya Sovereign Wealth Fund, with the National Assembly's Finance and Planning Committee recommending that withdrawals require approval from both the Controller of Budget and Parliament to prevent unconstitutional withdrawals. The Fund will collect and invest government revenues from oil and mineral resources.

    26 June 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 25 June

  1. High Court clears public debt case for full hearing

    A High Court has rejected attempts by the Attorney General and other respondents to dismiss Senator Okiya Omtatah's public debt petition, allowing it to proceed to a full hearing on its merits. The court upheld the International Monetary Fund's claim of diplomatic immunity and struck it out of the petition.

    25 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Saturday 20 June

  1. Wanjigi claims debt crisis linked to illegal 2014 borrowing

    Safina Party leader Jimi Wanjigi has claimed Kenya's growing debt burden includes billions borrowed illegally outside the constitutional framework, and that cancelling such debts could save Sh2.8 trillion. According to Treasury figures, Kenya's public debt has risen to approximately Sh12.8 trillion, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of about 69.5%.

    20 June 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 18 June

  1. Lawyers' case on government legal services delayed to September

    A three-judge court case seeking permission for law firms to provide unconditional legal services to government agencies has been postponed to September 29 because one judge is on leave. The delay comes after the Court of Appeal declined to suspend a high court order restricting government engagement of private lawyers without Attorney General justification and approval.

    18 June 2026 · The Standard →

Monday 15 June

  1. State House spent Sh11.6 billion in nine months of 2025/26

    State House spent Sh11.6 billion in the first nine months of the 2025/26 financial year, exceeding its budgetary allocation of Sh8.58 billion for the full year, according to the Controller of Budget.

    15 June 2026 · The Standard →

  2. Wanjigi calls on Kenyans to reject Finance Bill 2026

    Safina Party leader Jimi Wanjigi has urged Kenyans to reject the Finance Bill 2026, criticizing the government's proposed budget as a "debt budget" that prioritizes debt servicing over public welfare and seeks to raise an additional Sh120 billion in taxes. Wanjigi argued that the solution to Kenya's economic challenges is not more taxes, as Kenyans are already overtaxed, and renewed claims that Kenya has accumulated illegal and odious debt.

    15 June 2026 · The Standard →

Friday 12 June

  1. Motorists Association opposes NTSA e-logbook conversion charges

    The Motorists Association of Kenya has rejected NTSA plans to charge vehicle owners for converting physical logbooks into electronic logbooks, arguing that motorists have already paid for logbooks during registration and should not incur additional costs for the government's digitisation agenda.

    12 June 2026 · Capital News →

  2. Ruto defends frequent foreign travel as diplomatic duty

    President William Ruto has defended his frequent international travels, saying they are part of his official duties as Head of State and chief diplomat rather than leisure trips. Speaking at a town hall in Helsinki, Finland, Ruto emphasized that his foreign engagements aim to advance Kenya's diplomatic, trade, and investment interests.

    12 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Wednesday 10 June

  1. Kenya's government unpaid bills hit Sh465.87 billion by March

    Government agencies accumulated Sh465.87 billion in unpaid bills by March 31, 2026, comprising Sh271.16 billion in recurrent expenditure and Sh194.71 billion for development projects. The Controller of Budget report notes the pending bills constrain service delivery and project implementation while exposing government to litigation and additional costs.

    10 June 2026 · Capital News →

  2. Article 223 spending surges to Sh276.99 billion in nine months

    Government spending outside approved budget provisions reached Sh276.99 billion in the first nine months of the 2025/26 financial year, nearly sixfold higher than the Sh48.88 billion in the same period of 2024/25. The Controller of Budget warned that excessive reliance on Article 223—which allows emergency withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund before parliamentary approval—threatens budget credibility and fiscal discipline.

    10 June 2026 · Capital News →

  3. Government spent 17.3B on travel despite austerity calls

    The Controller of Budget flagged defiance of austerity measures in the national government's nine-month expenditure report, showing Ksh.17.3 billion spent on domestic and foreign travel, with State House and the Foreign Affairs Department among the largest spenders despite President Ruto's calls to reduce travel expenditure.

    10 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  4. Debt servicing consumes over 40 percent of government revenue

    Kenya's Controller of Budget reports that debt repayments totaled Sh1.35 trillion against total receipts of Sh3.21 trillion in the first nine months of the 2025/26 financial year, with debt payments accounting for nearly 87 percent of Consolidated Fund Services expenditure. Public debt has climbed to Sh12.82 trillion, equivalent to 69.9 percent of GDP and exceeding Parliament's 55 percent threshold by 15 percentage points.

    10 June 2026 · Capital News →

  5. Kenya's public debt reaches Sh12.82 trillion, exceeds legal threshold

    Kenya's public debt rose 9 per cent to Sh12.82 trillion as of March 31, 2026, exceeding Parliament's recommended debt anchor of 55 per cent of GDP by 14.9 percentage points. Domestic debt drove much of the increase, rising 13 per cent to Sh7.05 trillion, while debt-servicing consumed Sh1.35 trillion during the nine-month period.

    10 June 2026 · Capital News →

  6. Regulatory oversight needed to prevent school dormitory fires

    An opinion piece argues that the fire at Utumishi Girls Senior School that killed 16 students exposes gaps in regulatory oversight of basic education institutions. The author calls for stronger enforcement of standards by the Educational Standards and Quality Assurance Council (ESQAC) and other oversight bodies to prevent future catastrophes.

    10 June 2026 · The Standard →

Monday 25 May

  1. Kenya's public debt approaches Sh13 trillion as repayments mount

    Kenya's public debt is nearing Sh13 trillion as President Ruto's administration increases domestic borrowing following international market activity. Economists and the Controller of Budget warn that debt repayments already consuming nearly 80 per cent of tax revenues risk crowding out the private sector and triggering a debt service crisis.

    25 May 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 13 May

  1. Governors urge Parliament to amend PFM Act for Sh75.7 billion access

    The Council of Governors has asked Parliament to amend the Public Finance Management Act to allow counties immediate access to Sh75.7 billion in conditional allocations once the County Government Additional Allocation Bill, 2026, is enacted, arguing that current requirements for signed intergovernmental agreements interfere with the budget cycle.

    13 May 2026 · The Standard →

  2. Senate orders Treasury to restore Meru County funding freeze

    The Senate adopted a resolution directing the National Treasury to lift a funding freeze on Meru County imposed over foreign debt concerns, arguing the action violated constitutional process. Senators questioned why the Treasury invoked Article 225 instead of Article 190 and warned that withholding funds from devolved units undermines service delivery and sets a dangerous precedent for counties.

    13 May 2026 · Capital News →

Friday 8 May

  1. Treasury to unfreeze Meru funds after settling hotel debt

    The National Treasury has committed to lifting a freeze on Meru County Government funds and settling Ksh139 million owed to a French investor linked to Leopard Rock Hotel Limited, Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi told the Senate Finance and Budget Committee.

    8 May 2026 · Capital News →

Thursday 7 May

  1. Government figures on economy size shape budget deficit ratios

    Analysis of Kenya's GDP growth statistics: the government statistician reported 4.6 per cent growth, and budget estimates for 2026/2027 set the economy at more than Ksh.20.8 trillion, a figure used to calculate key metrics like the budget deficit-to-GDP and public debt-to-GDP ratios that affect borrowing decisions.

    7 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Saturday 2 May

  1. Civil groups urge Parliament to halt Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill

    Civil groups under the Okoa Uchumi Campaign are calling for Parliament to withdraw the Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill 2026, citing insufficient public participation and lack of safeguards against political misuse. The groups argue the Bill should be preceded by a Sessional paper and require robust ring-fencing provisions and oversight protections before passage.

    2 May 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 30 April

  1. Wanjigi demands freeze on Treasury's Sh150bn shadow account

    Businessman Jimi Wanjigi has called for a freeze on a Sh150.7 billion sovereign bond account that he alleges the National Treasury is hiding outside the Consolidated Fund. He claims that 84 out of 88 recurrent exchequer line items published in a Kenya Gazette notice contained errors, and argues the discrepancies point to systemic failures in public finance management rather than clerical mistakes.

    30 April 2026 · The Standard →

Tuesday 28 April

  1. Controller of Budget seeks tighter oversight of Sovereign Wealth Fund

    The Controller of Budget and Office of the Auditor General have called for stronger safeguards for the proposed Sovereign Wealth Fund to protect the integrity of its management.

    28 April 2026 · The Standard →

Controller of Budget — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute