The controversy emerged after President Ruto announced that he would appoint members of the NIF Governing Council on March 12, 2026.
According to the President, the council will be responsible for appointing board members who will oversee the operations of the fund.
However, the announcement has raised concerns among some legal experts and political figures who fear that the structure could concentrate significant financial power in the hands of a small group of individuals.
Renowned Kenyan lawyer Paul Muite was among those who questioned the move. In a statement shared on the social media platform X, Muite argued that the decision could potentially place large amounts of public funds under the control of a single authority outside established constitutional safeguards.
According to the Senior Counsel, such an arrangement could bypass important institutions responsible for oversight of public finances, including Parliament of Kenya and the Office of the Auditor-General of Kenya.
Muite also raised concerns about the possible removal of financial oversight systems linked to digital government services such as eCitizen and electronic procurement platforms used for managing public tenders.
The lawyer suggested that if these systems are excluded from the management of public funds, it could weaken transparency and accountability mechanisms that have been put in place to safeguard government spending.
Reacting to the issue, Keter said he would move to court to challenge the appointments. In his remarks on X, the former MP warned that he and other concerned stakeholders would not allow decisions that could potentially affect the welfare of Kenyan citizens to proceed without legal scrutiny.
Keter insisted that the government must respect constitutional procedures when handling public funds and making appointments to institutions responsible for managing national resources.
The dispute has sparked debate among Kenyans, with some supporting the need for legal clarification while others argue that the government should be allowed to proceed with its reforms aimed at restructuring public institutions.
However, the announcement has raised concerns among some legal experts and political figures who fear that the structure could concentrate significant financial power in the hands of a small group of individuals.
Renowned Kenyan lawyer Paul Muite was among those who questioned the move. In a statement shared on the social media platform X, Muite argued that the decision could potentially place large amounts of public funds under the control of a single authority outside established constitutional safeguards.
According to the Senior Counsel, such an arrangement could bypass important institutions responsible for oversight of public finances, including Parliament of Kenya and the Office of the Auditor-General of Kenya.
Muite also raised concerns about the possible removal of financial oversight systems linked to digital government services such as eCitizen and electronic procurement platforms used for managing public tenders.
The lawyer suggested that if these systems are excluded from the management of public funds, it could weaken transparency and accountability mechanisms that have been put in place to safeguard government spending.
Reacting to the issue, Keter said he would move to court to challenge the appointments. In his remarks on X, the former MP warned that he and other concerned stakeholders would not allow decisions that could potentially affect the welfare of Kenyan citizens to proceed without legal scrutiny.
Keter insisted that the government must respect constitutional procedures when handling public funds and making appointments to institutions responsible for managing national resources.
The dispute has sparked debate among Kenyans, with some supporting the need for legal clarification while others argue that the government should be allowed to proceed with its reforms aimed at restructuring public institutions.
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