The Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture (PIC-SSAA) has raised concerns over financial and governance issues at the Kenya Veterinary Board following audit queries.
The committee, chaired by Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe, questioned how the Board constructed its headquarters on land without a title deed.
KVB Chief Executive Officer Mary Theresa Agutu told lawmakers that the land had been allocated by the Ministry of Agriculture and that the National Land Commission is processing the ownership documents.
Wangwe expressed concern that the matter has remained unresolved for years. “This issue has appeared in audit reports since 2022. It cannot remain unresolved,” he said.
Auditors also flagged excess expenditure by the Board, noting that it exceeded the legal cap on board expenses by Ksh 4.38 million.
The Board attributed the overspending to its legally mandated 17-member composition but said it had since reduced sitting allowances from Ksh20,000 to Ksh 12,000 as part of cost-cutting measures.
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However, lawmakers questioned both the legality of the reduction and the continued payment of allowances to government officials already earning public salaries.
The committee also raised alarm over a severe staffing shortfall at the agency. Against an approved establishment of 222 employees, the Board had only 20 staff during the audit period, a gap legislators warned could have serious consequences for the livestock sector.
“This gap is enabling quacks to exploit farmers and endanger livestock,” said Ahmed Hassan.
Dr. Agutu said the Board is taking steps to address the issue, including digitising its registry and issuing identification cards to help farmers verify licensed veterinary practitioners.
The committee has directed the Board to recover irregular payments, secure its land title, and expedite recruitment to address the staffing crisis.
By Obegi Malack
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