The National Industrial Training Authority is facing serious criticism after Members of Parliament raised concerns over how it has handled public resources.
During a session with the Public Investments Committee on Social Services, chaired by Emmanuel Wangwe, lawmakers highlighted what they described as clear cases of theft, mismanagement, and questionable land transactions that have cost Kenyans millions of shillings.
The grilling session revealed that NITA had failed to properly account for funds and assets under its management, raising fresh doubts about leadership in one of the country’s most important training institutions.
One of the key issues raised was how Ksh355 million, which represented 21 per cent of the authority’s 2016/2017 budget, was left unspent.
Lawmakers demanded to know why such a significant amount had not been put to use to improve training programs or expand services.
Instead of giving clear explanations, NITA officials presented weak and incomplete submissions that did little to answer the tough questions. MPs accused the officials of being unprepared and evasive, leaving the committee unsatisfied.
The committee also unearthed evidence of fraud within the authority. Missing cheques worth Ksh12.8 million were linked to a former employee, while irregular staff advances amounting to Ksh44.5 million were flagged as suspicious.
Additionally, NITA had failed to collect training levies from defaulting employers, leading to a loss of Ksh18.3 million. These lapses, lawmakers argued, show poor financial oversight and deliberate negligence that undermine the institution’s credibility.
A major concern that stood out was the questionable land deal involving prime property in Mombasa. The authority reportedly gave up the land to private developers and received a property in Bombolulu in exchange.
However, the land in Bombolulu had been occupied by squatters since 1996, making it unusable. MPs demanded to know who the developers were and how such an arrangement was approved, but NITA officials failed to produce documents or even identify the parties involved.
This raised suspicions of collusion and possible theft, with the committee calling for urgent action to reclaim the land.
The audit further revealed that NITA had no complete record of its fixed assets, including parcels of land and vehicles. In some cases, ownership documents were missing, including those for a motor vehicle donated by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation. Such gaps suggested an attempt to conceal theft or mismanagement.
Lawmakers criticized the officials for providing shallow responses and directed them to return with full documentation at a follow-up session scheduled for October 1, 2025.
This scandal adds to a growing pattern of corruption and mismanagement in public institutions. For NITA, an authority meant to prepare and equip Kenyans with industrial skills, the loss of resources directly undermines its mandate.
Lawmakers warned that unless firm action is taken, taxpayers’ money will continue to disappear while trust in government institutions fades.
The scandal now puts pressure on Parliament to act decisively in ensuring accountability and protecting public funds.
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