MPs put Kenya Literature Bureau on the spot over Ksh251.5M debt
By David Nthua, July 8, 2026Parliament has put the Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB) on the spot over its failure to recover Ksh251.5M in long-outstanding debts.
According to a statement posted by the Parliament of Kenya on Facebook, the National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education questioned KLB officials on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, over debts affecting the agency’s financial stability.
The committee was examining Auditor-General reports covering KLB’s financial statements between the 2018/19 and 2024/25 financial years.
Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu reported that KLB had trade and other receivables amounting to Ksh1.05B. Of this amount, Ksh251.5M had remained unpaid for more than 90 days.
MPs demand recovery
Committee chair and Luanda MP Dick Maungu criticised KLB management over what lawmakers described as inadequate debt recovery efforts.
“If you recover even a fraction of these debts, you will be able to pay salaries for some of your staff,” Maungu said.
He urged the bureau to pursue payments instead of repeatedly considering debt write-offs.
KLB Managing Director George Okeyo told MPs that the institution had exhausted available administrative measures but faced difficulties recovering money from other government agencies.
“If we are allowed by the government to take drastic action against fellow government institutions, we would do so. We have used all the avenues available to KLB over the years, but we have failed to recover these debts,” Okeyo said.
Old debts questioned
Central Imenti MP Moses Kirima questioned why some debts dating back to 2015 remained unresolved.
“It shows a lack of seriousness. If you have a legal adviser, they should know that courts can extend time to enable recovery where necessary,” Kirima said.
The committee also rejected KLB’s proposal to write off Ksh921,000 owed by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
KLB Assistant Finance Manager Kenneth Adongo further told MPs that the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development owes the bureau more than Ksh1.3B.
Maungu directed the committee secretariat to summon the Council of Governors over debts owed by county governments to state agencies. The National Treasury Cabinet Secretary is also expected to answer questions over delayed payments to public institutions.