A parliamentary committee has dismissed the Controller of Budget, Dr. Margret Nyakang’o, for appearing without a complete report required for a scheduled meeting.
The National Assembly Committee on Cohesion and Equal Opportunities sent Dr. Nyakang’o away on Thursday, citing unpreparedness after she failed to present key documents related to employment diversity and allocations for special interest groups.
The session, held at Bunge Towers in Nairobi, was expected to address accountability issues, including compliance with the 30% job reservation for marginalized groups.
Committee Chairperson Adan Yussuf Haji expressed disappointment, pointing out that Dr. Nyakang’o had been notified of the meeting ten days earlier.
"You got our invite 10 days ago, and that should have given you enough time to prepare," said the Mandera West MP.
"It is unfortunate, but we have to send you back so that you prepare well and appear later."
Dr. Nyakang’o arrived at the meeting over an hour late and requested more time to provide copies of her report. She told the committee she only had one copy and was waiting for her team to deliver additional ones.
"I have only come with one copy of the report for myself, and I am waiting for my officers to bring copies for sharing with MPs," she said.
Members were not pleased. MP Duncan Mathenge (Nyeri Town) questioned her commitment to her work.
"The Controller of Budget was supposed to avail the documents to the Committee two days before she appears for Members to adequately go through," he said.
He further remarked: "It is unacceptable for her to ask for more time to also make changes to the reports. Why make changes overnight?"
Mathenge noted that Dr. Nyakang’o enjoys a positive public image as a senior government official and said that seriousness should be evident in her appearances before Parliament.
Dr. Nyakang’o apologized to the Committee, explaining that technical issues delayed her printing process.
"I apologise to the Committee for inconveniences caused, and I will (sic) comply with the directive and am ready to appear before the Committee whenever I am asked to do so," she said.
