Lawmakers will no longer be allowed to operate constituency or county offices from buildings they own or properties linked to their relatives under fresh regulations that seek to tighten accountability and stop the misuse of public resources.
The Parliamentary Service Commission has gazetted the Parliamentary Service (Constituency and County Offices) Regulations, 2026, ushering in a new system that governs how constituency and county offices are leased, managed and funded.
The regulations also set new standards for staffing, procurement and the transition of offices after elections, replacing the Parliamentary Service (Constituency Offices) Regulations of 2005 that have been in force for the last 20 years.
A major change under the new framework is the ban on Members of Parliament identifying or occupying offices located in buildings they own, properties owned by their relatives or premises where they have a direct financial interest.
“A member may only identify or occupy an office under these regulations where the proposed office is not located in a building owned by that member or a relative of the member, a building in which the member or a member of staff assigned to the member has a direct financial interest,” the rules read.
The regulations also bar MPs from using offices belonging to their political parties or operating constituency offices from their own residences.
The changes are intended to remove conflict of interest in the leasing of constituency and county offices and ensure public money used to pay rent does not benefit lawmakers directly or indirectly.
Before securing office space, an MP will be required to identify premises that are accessible to residents, secure and within the rental limits approved by the Parliamentary Service Commission.
The selected premises must also receive clearance through a public health inspection report confirming they are suitable for occupation. In addition, a structural inspection report from the county public works department, a valuation report prepared by a government valuer confirming the market rent and a draft lease agreement must be submitted before approval.
The Clerk of Parliament will verify the documents before authorising the lease and approving payment of rent.
The regulations further remove MPs from the lease signing process. Instead, the constituency or county office manager will execute the lease with the approval of the MP before forwarding it to the Clerk of Parliament for custody.
The new rules also tighten how constituency and county office funds are managed.
Every office will be required to operate an approved commercial bank account, with the constituency or county office manager serving as the mandatory signatory. Two additional staff members appointed by the MP will also be signatories to the account.
Constituency and county offices will only receive fresh allocations after accounting for money previously released.
The regulations also give the Clerk of Parliament authority to act where there are concerns that public funds have been misused.
“Where the commission has reasonable grounds to believe that funds allocated and disbursed to a constituency or county office have been misappropriated or used in contravention of the prescribed guidelines, the clerk may take appropriate action as necessary.”
The regulations state that the action may include freezing financial accounts, stopping further release of funds and recovering misappropriated money through legal channels.
However, affected offices must first be given seven days to explain why such action should not be taken.
The framework also introduces minimum academic and professional qualifications for officers responsible for handling public funds.
Constituency office managers must have at least a diploma and five years of relevant experience. Accounts assistants will be required to hold an accountant's technician diploma, while procurement assistants must possess a diploma in procurement or supply chain management and be registered with the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management.
Each elected MP will be expected to employ a constituency or county office manager, an accounts assistant, a procurement assistant and at least two security guards, among other members of staff.
Office managers will also take on expanded duties, including managing office bank accounts, overseeing lease agreements, preparing financial records, responding to audit queries and ensuring statutory deductions are submitted to the relevant government agencies on time.
The regulations further provide a framework for the orderly transition of constituency and county offices after elections.