The Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) is split over President William Ruto’s directive that it parts with Sh300 million for the acquisition of St John Ambulance-Kenya’s building located within Parliament Square.

The relocation will also see the National Treasury add the international humanitarian and charitable organisation another Sh200 million, bringing its entire construction budget for the new office block to Sh500 million.

Further, from the subsequent financial year- 2027/28- the organisation will be getting an annual allocation of Sh100 million from the exchequer and 15 new ambulances.

However, a section of the members of PSC, chaired by Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula, was specifically taken aback by president Ruto’s June 21, 2026 directive, saying that it goes against the independence of constitutional commissions, of which PSC is one.

The disgruntled PSC members, who did not want to go on record, faulted the president’s directive on account that the Sh300 million required to compensate St John Ambulance Kenya was not budgeted for and therefore goes against the independence of PSC in formulating its own budget.

Under the brokered agreement, the charitable organisation will surrender its current property, St John's House on St John Lane, off Parliament Road, right opposite the Bunge Tower, the parliament’s multibillion-shilling modern office block complex for MPs.

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In return, the government has provided a prime one-acre piece of land in Nairobi’s Upper Hill area, previously the Capitol Hill police station, but which was degazetted and moved elsewhere, to relocate and expand their operations.

But at a heated meeting of the PSC, the members vowed not to allow such a transaction outside the law, the PSC budget, with Speaker Wetang’ula among the few in the commission not opposed to the president’s directive.

“We will not allow this to be actualized without a proper budgeting process. We will not be arm-twisted,” said a member of the PSC, who did not want to go on record.

“First of all, we do not have that kind of money in our budget books. This means that if we go ahead and approve the expenditure, it will fly in the face of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act,” another member of the PSC said, adding, “the days of roadside directives are long gone and we will not subject ourselves to such.

“Who determined that St Johns Ambulance Kenya requires the Sh300 million to construct its new headquarters? Who did the valuation and when was it done to arrive at the amount?” posed another PSC member.

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Parliament Buildings in Nairobi.

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

But Speaker Wetang’ula was unequivocal in his response to the dissatisfied PSC members.

“I cannot oppose the president,” Speaker Wetang’ula is quoted by a section of PSC members as saying.

The Speaker did not respond when reached for a comment.

Making the directive during the 95th St John Ambulance annual parade and inspection at State House, Nairobi, president Ruto claimed that the acquisition of the building was settled following his intervention at a meeting involving parliament, St John Ambulance Kenya and the Ministry of Lands, among others.

“Between St Johns Ambulance Kenya and parliament, we have agreed that you will surrender the small building you have near parliament and parliament is going to give Sh300 million for you to be able to build your new headquarters,” President Ruto directed.

The president noted that “I am aware that your organisation has outgrown its facilities and it is pursuing a modern national centre for training coordination and volunteer development.”

“Today I reaffirm the government’s commitment that we will give you land at Upper Hill. I made that commitment and tomorrow you can collect your title from the Ministry of Lands, it is ready,” said the president.

Article 127 (1) of the constitution establishes the PSC and provides that the commission shall consist of the Speaker of the National Assembly, as chairperson, a vice-chairperson elected from seven members, who are sitting members of parliament.

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Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula at the chambers.

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

The commission also has one man and one woman appointed by parliament from among persons who are experienced in public affairs, but are not members of parliament with the Clerk of the Senate as the Secretary.

The constitution and the PFM Act give the National Assembly the powers to make the budget for all the three arms of the government- the Executive that includes the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the Judiciary and Parliament, including the PSC.

The fact that the President’s directive was not written violates the constitutional requirement on how decisions of the president should be executed as a cure to the presidential roadside declarations for political reasons.

“A decision of the president in the performance of any function of the president under this constitution shall be in writing and shall bear the seal and signature of the president,” reads Article 135 of the constitution.

“We have not seen any written directive from the president on this matter as the constitution requires. Proceeding with this matter will arouse audit queries and, in the process, land us in problems,” said another member of PSC.

The relocation clears up space around the heavily secured parliament precinct while granting St John Ambulance Kenya a larger footprint in Upper Hill to establish a modern training, coordination and volunteering national centre.

St John Ambulance is an international humanitarian organisation and charitable movement that provides emergency medical services, first aid training and community health programs.

Identifiable by its iconic eight-pointed Maltese cross logo, it operates as a modern branch of the historic Order of St John across 44 countries, mostly within the Commonwealth.

The organisation operates 24/7 emergency ambulance dispatch hotlines to provide rapid pre-hospital care and trauma transportation.

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