Auditor General’s Officers Have No Fare to Conduct Their Work- Senator
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna highlighted on Friday that the Auditor General’s Office is facing numerous challenges that obstruct its ability to effectively fulfill its duties.
In an interview with Spice FM, Sifuna disclosed that there are occasions when the Senate must delay committee meetings due to logistical issues related to Nancy Gathungu’s office, which lacks the resources to travel to Nairobi.
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According to Sifuna, the Auditor General’s Office frequently voices concerns about inadequate funding and resources. He mentioned that Senate Public Accounts meetings have been postponed because staff from the AG’s Kisumu hub could not afford travel expenses.
This disclosure follows Auditor General Nancy Gathungu’s earlier complaints about insufficient funding.
In May, Gathungu expressed her objections to proposed budget cuts exceeding Sh270 million, arguing that such reductions would negatively impact her office’s ability to prepare essential audit reports for both national and county governments.
The Office of the Auditor General, crucial for monitoring public fund usage, depends on yearly allocations suggested by the National Treasury and sanctioned by the National Assembly.
Previously, Gathungu had advocated for a funding overhaul to improve the office’s independence, suggesting the creation of a protected fund shielded from arbitrary changes by Parliament and the National Treasury.
Sifuna Criticizes EACC
During the interview, Sifuna also criticized the EACC for the slow pace of prosecuting officials implicated in corruption cases reported to them.
He commended the Auditor General for actively participating in the process and referring cases to the Senate’s Public Accounts Committee, which then forwarded recommendations to the EACC for further action.
Sifuna revealed that the EACC often delays or fails to provide feedback on the cases they receive.
“For the past two years, over 150 corruption cases have been reported to the EACC by the Senate’s Public Accounts Committee, but our inquiries about their progress have not received direct responses,” Sifuna stated.
The Nairobi Senator underscored the need for a better budget to enhance the OAG’s operational efficiency.
Auditor General’s Officers Have No Fare to Conduct Their Work- Senator
