The Public Accounts Committee Chaired by Hon. John Mbadi (Nominated) has raised concern over the decision by Ministries to divert money for research to other use such as payment of allowances.

The Committee noted that according to the Auditor General's Report, State Departments have the habit of diverting research money to other functions, a move which the Auditor termed as illegal.

"Research is a very critical component in the Ministries and the function has been allocated a substantial amount of money. However, some senior Government officers divert these funds to payment of staff allowances," said Hon. Mbadi.

Hon. Mbadi noted that staff employed as researchers have been frustrated and rendered irrelevant after funds allocated for research were not used for the same purpose.

The Committee was informed that millions of shillings meant for research had been diverted to payment of staff allowances by the State Department for Petroleum. 

According to the Report, a review of expenditure records revealed a payment of Kshs42 million, some funds for research vote, as allowances to staff working beyond normal working hours.