Omtatah: Borrowed money is used to compromise Parliament

Sen. Okiya Omtatah, from Busia, has accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of using borrowed public funds to compromise Parliament. During an interview on Thursday, September 10, 2026, Omtatah highlighted that Kenya's economic challenges are not primarily due to a lack of resources but instead stem from poor financial discipline and inadequate accountability in managing public debt.

The senator expressed concern over the disparity between the government's borrowing and the amounts approved by Parliament through the national budget. According to Omtatah, the government has borrowed around Ksh5.9 trillion over the specified period, whereas Parliament has only authorized a much smaller sum through the budget process.

He questioned the whereabouts of the remaining funds, particularly those borrowed without a corresponding budget approval. Omtatah called for Parliament and oversight bodies to investigate how the borrowed funds were utilized and whether they adhered to the approved legal frameworks. He also raised concerns about Section 50(7) of the Public Finance Management Act, which permits the retention of borrowed funds offshore for certain financing purposes.

Omtatah argued that such arrangements may enable the misuse of public debt if there are insufficient oversight mechanisms. He urged Parliament to seek clear answers about the destination and utilization of the borrowed funds. The senator emphasized the need to hold government officials accountable and questioned why Parliament had not asked more probing questions about the funds' whereabouts.

Omtatah connected these financial issues to the independence of Parliament, suggesting that control over public resources could weaken the legislature's capacity to independently scrutinize the Executive. He argued that Parliament would wield more influence over the Executive if access to public funds remained strictly tied to constitutional and parliamentary processes.

Omtatah concluded by asserting that Kenya possesses sufficient resources for development and improved public services if financial management is conducted with greater discipline and transparency. He reiterated his belief that the country is wealthy and merely requires financial discipline.