New PAC chair Mwale vows to ensure prudent use of public resources

Butere Member of Parliament Tindi Mwale has vowed to ensure the prudent use and management of public resources in his new role as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman.

“I am committed to running an effective system that guarantees the responsible use of public resources, ensuring Kenyans get value for their money,” Mwale told The Sunday Standard.

He assured the public of lawful, transparent, and efficient management of public funds, emphasizing that government officials must utilize resources responsibly.

He warned that anyone found misusing public funds would be held personally accountable.

“My goal is to enhance scrutiny in government expenditure and revenue auditing while reducing wastage and unnecessary spending through stringent measures,” he said.

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Mwale called for fiscal discipline, good governance, accountability, and transparency in managing public finances. He urged parliamentary committees to regularly monitor disbursements and expenditures by government agencies to ensure responsible spending.

The newly appointed PAC boss stressed that regular reports from ministries and agencies on fund utilisation would help curb corruption and promote accountability.

“Committees fail because they don’t monitor disbursements. Once funds are approved for ministries, there’s often no follow-up. Waiting for audits sometimes comes too late, allowing room for misappropriation,” he said.

Political journey

Mwale’s rise to the powerful PAC chairmanship was not of his own making. His political journey began in 2015 when local opinion leaders and elders urged him to run for office in the 2017 elections.

At just 38 years old, he made history by defeating incumbent Andrew Toboso (ODM) to become Butere’s youngest MP, securing victory on an Amani National Congress (ANC) ticket with 18,235 votes against Toboso’s 11,684.

“It was a tough battle, but we emerged victorious despite numerous challenges,” he recalled.

His political career has been marked by resilience, determination, and strategic decision-making.

In 2022, he became the first politician in Western Kenya to secure a direct ODM nomination after defecting from ANC at the last minute. S

everal other Amani legislators followed suit, including Bishop Titus Khamala (Lurambi), Christopher Aseka (Khwisero), Peter Nabulindo (Matungu), Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), and Oku Kaunya (Teso North).

A shrewd politician, Mwale has carefully navigated Kenya’s complex political terrain. His move from ANC to ODM aligned with the shifting alliances between opposition leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto.

Once a close ally of former ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, Mwale now proudly identifies as a “Captain of Jeshi la Baba,” a political group championing Raila Odinga’s ideologies.

His appointment as PAC chairman followed intense competition, where he secured nine votes against Rarieda MP Otiende Omollo’s six. Raila Odinga was among the first to congratulate him.

“Thank you, Baba, for the warm welcome. I shall always be loyal and learn from your leadership and wisdom as I take on my new assignment,” Mwale said during a meeting with Odinga at Capitol Hill.

Mwale, an alumnus of Kenya Methodist University (KeMU), holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Entrepreneurship and Investments) and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Finance and Financial Management.

Before KeMU, he earned a national diploma in Aeronautical Engineering from Nairobi Technical Training Institute. He later acquired professional certifications in Audit, Risk, and Governance from MISTI Training Institute in London.

Upon completing his studies in 2009, Mwale worked as an aeronautical engineer at Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) before transitioning to business development and finance roles.