The Office of the Controller of Budget (CoB) is seeking public views on proposed changes that would give it clearer powers and procedures for controlling, monitoring and reporting on the use of public funds at both national and county levels.
The office has opened public participation on the Draft Controller of Budget (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Draft Controller of Budget Regulations, 2025, as it moves to strengthen the legal framework supporting its constitutional oversight role.
Public forums will be held in different parts of the country between October 12 and November 12, 2026, while written comments must reach the office by 5pm on October 8, 2026.
The proposed Bill is intended to address gaps identified in the implementation of the existing Controller of Budget Act, while the regulations seek to set out clearer procedures on how the office exercises its powers and performs its functions.
Among the areas covered by the proposed regulations are the authorisation of withdrawals from public funds, enforcement of budget ceilings, monitoring and evaluation of budget implementation, and preparation of reports and recommendations to both national and county governments.
The regulations also set out procedures for preparing and submitting quarterly and special reports, conducting investigations and handling disputes through conciliation, mediation and negotiation.
They further seek to define the documents required when the Controller exercises statutory powers, as well as the format to be used for requisitions and approvals relating to the withdrawal of public funds.
“The Office of the Controller of Budget, in collaboration with the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, has developed the Draft Controller of Budget (Amendment) Act and Draft Controller of Budget Regulations with a view to strengthening the legal framework for the discharge of the mandate of the office.”
The reforms concern an institution whose oversight role is provided for under Article 228 of the Constitution. The Controller of Budget is responsible for overseeing the implementation of national and county budgets and must authorise withdrawals from public funds.
The Constitution also requires the Controller to submit a budget implementation report to each House of Parliament every four months.
Through its reports, the office compares government spending with approved annual targets and budget objectives, while pointing out challenges affecting implementation and proposing measures to address them.
Its oversight covers national government ministries, departments and agencies as well as county governments, giving the office a role in tracking how public resources are being used across the country.
The CoB currently publishes quarterly, half-year and annual budget implementation reports. Its website contains national and county reports for financial years running up to 2025/26, showing the continued scope of its budget oversight work.
The proposed regulations would therefore provide more detailed rules on how the Controller carries out functions linked to the release, use and monitoring of public funds.
The public participation exercise is being undertaken in line with Article 10 of the Constitution and Section 5 of the Statutory Instruments Act, 2013, according to the public notice issued by the office.
The first public forum will be held on October 12 at Lodwar Vocational Training Centre and will bring together stakeholders from Turkana and West Pokot counties.
Further meetings will be held in Eldoret, Kakamega, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Nanyuki, Meru, Kitui, Garissa, Malindi, Mombasa and Nairobi.
The Kisumu forum, scheduled for October 19 at the Mama Grace Onyango Cultural and Social Centre, will bring together participants from Homa Bay, Kisumu, Nyamira, Kisii, Siaya and Migori counties.
The final forum will be held on November 12 at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development in Nairobi and will cover Nairobi, Kiambu and Kajiado counties.
All the public participation meetings will run from 9am to noon.
The CoB has urged members of the public and other stakeholders to study the proposed Bill and regulations and submit their views before the October 8 deadline.
The proposed changes are aimed at giving the Controller of Budget a clearer legal and procedural framework for carrying out its oversight work, with a focus on accountability, monitoring and effective implementation of public budgets across national and county governments.