Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has sharply criticised what he describes as the growing misuse of Article 223 of the Constitution, warning that unchecked emergency spending is exposing Kenya to serious fiscal risks.

In a statement on his X handle on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Olekina said it was inappropriate for him to remain silent as the ambitious plan to turn Kenya’s economy to match that of Singapore was faced with hindrances.

Olekina cautioned against Kenya’s current financial management practices. He argued that the government is increasingly relying on Article 223 to authorise expenditures outside the approved budget, undermining transparency and accountability.

“It’s not good to keep quiet when the road to Singapore (Kenya) is full of potholes… I’m seeing lots of unnecessary spending outside the budget, abusing Article 223, and posing serious fiscal risks. Parliament must amend Article 223 for bicameral approval upfront,” Olekina stated.

Article 223 of the Kenyan Constitution allows the national government to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund Services in cases of urgent and unforeseen need, subject to later parliamentary approval. However, Olekina insists the provision is being abused to push through expenditures that are neither urgent nor unforeseen.

Olekina faults AFCON allocation

The senator singled out the reported Ksh3.9 billion allocation for hosting the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a prime example. He questioned why such a predictable and long-term commitment was processed under Article 223 instead of being included in the national budget through proper planning.

The lawmaker now wants Parliament to urgently amend Article 223 to require bicameral approval by both the National Assembly and the Senate before any such funds are withdrawn, rather than the current system of post-facto ratification.

According to Olekina, upfront approval would restore fiscal discipline, enhance oversight, and prevent the executive from bypassing the budget-making process.

The remarks come amid increasing scrutiny of government spending and rising concerns over Kenya’s public debt and budget deficits.

Olekina has warned that frequent reliance on emergency provisions like Article 223 could weaken institutional controls and erode public trust in financial governance.