The Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) on Thursday, April 24 held the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) to account over persistent audit backlogs, rising concerns over Kenya’s debt burden, and allegations of corruption within its own ranks.
Appearing before the Committee was Deputy Auditor General (DAG) Isaac Kamau, who faced pointed questions on delays in audit reporting, particularly those impacting revenue allocation to counties under Article 229(8) of the Constitution.
“We are lagging behind by two years. Without up-to-date audited reports, counties are denied timely support,” said Hon. Caroli Omondi, who also called for a complete audit of Kenya’s public debt and tax waivers issued by government agencies. “We need to see a full list of what we owe as a country,” he added.
Hon. Omondi further urged the OAG to submit legislative proposals that would promote fiscal discipline and incentivize compliance, particularly in monitoring digital platforms like eCitizen.
On the issue of internal corruption, Vice Chairperson Hon. William Kamket (Tiaty) raised alarm over allegations that some institutions budget for bribes to auditors. “That’s disturbing. To what extent does corruption among your staff affect your credibility?” he asked.
Echoing the concern, Hon. Geoffrey Mulanya added, “If accounting officers are budgeting for auditors without interaction with EACC, something is wrong. Where is the accountability?”
In response, Mr. Kamau defended the OAG’s internal measures, noting collaboration with the EACC and DCI. “We also conduct post-assignment reviews, rotate staff every three years to prevent familiarity, and require all officers to sign a code of ethics before deployment,” he said.
He also confirmed the Public Debt Report will be tabled in the first quarter of the next financial year.
Addressing criticism over media coverage, Mr. Kamau said, “We now have 92% accuracy in mainstream media reporting. Alarmist reporting has significantly declined due to ongoing engagements with journalists.”
Still, Hon. Gitonga pressed the office on self-accountability, “How do you measure your performance? Public trust hinges on the transparency and credibility of your audits.”
Mr. Kamau admitted that audit turnaround times remain a challenge but pledged improvements to ensure audits are timely and relevant.
As Kenya grapples with rising debt and fiscal demands, the CIOC Committee emphasized that accurate, timely, and corruption-free auditing is not just a constitutional requirement, it’s crucial to maintain public trust.
