ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the formation and evolution of the Kenyan Public Accounts Committee (PAC) from colonialism to independence, from one-party dictatorship to multi-party democracy and from the old to the new Constitution. The chapter also analyses how effective the PAC has become following these developments. The chapter was written after an analysis of Hansard records, PAC reports, standing orders, legislation and prior literature. The chapter finds that the Kenyan PAC has evolved to become more independent, better resourced and more assertive as political space has opened up. The PAC’s performance has, however, not translated to wider gains for the country, especially on matters such as corruption and the mismanagement of public resources. The chapter concludes that the strengthening of the PAC should be accompanied by reforms to the other institutions of government in order to tame the excesses of executive power.
