The Parliamentary Budget Office of Kenya (K - PBO) is a non-partisan professional office of the Parliamentary Service Commission. It was established in the year 2007 with a goal of enhancing the oversight role of Parliament by creating the necessary capacity for scrutiny of the national budget and the economy as well as budget processes relating to the sub-national governments.

The primary function of PBO is to provide professional and technical services in respect of budget, finance and economic information to Committees of Parliament. The Office derives this legal mandate from Sections 9 and 10 of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, 2012.

Core Mandate

In-line with the provision of Section 9 and 10 of PFM (2012) which is the enabling legislation of Chapter 12 of the Constitution on public finance, the key mandate of The PBO is to:

1.    Provide professional services in respect of budget, finance and economic information to the Committees of Parliament;

2.    Prepare reports on budgetary projections and economic forecasts and make proposals to Committees of Parliament responsible for budgetary matters;

3.    Prepare analyses of specific issues including financial risks posed by government policies and activities to guide Parliament;

4.    Consider budget proposals and economic trends and make recommendations to the relevant committee of Parliament with respect to those proposals and trends;

5.    establish and foster relationships with the National Treasury, county treasuries and other national and international organisations, with an interest in budgetary and socioeconomic matters as it considers appropriate for the efficient and effective performance of its functions;

6.    Subject to Article 35 of the Constitution, ensure that all reports and other documents produced by the Parliamentary Budget Office are prepared, published and publicised not later than fourteen days after production;

7.    Report to the relevant committees of Parliament on any Bill that is submitted to Parliament that has an economic and financial impact, making reference to the fiscal responsibility principles and to the financial objectives set out in the relevant Budget Policy Statement; and

8.    Propose where necessary an alternative fiscal framework in respect of any financial year.