This archive report was first published on 6 August 2020.
The Senate Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19 has taken a crucial step in ensuring transparency in the management of COVID-19 funds. On August 6, 2020, the committee asked Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu to conduct a special audit on how the 47 county governments spent funds allocated to combat the novel coronavirus.
The audit, expected to be completed by September 4, 2020, will cover the period from March 13, 2020, when the first cases of coronavirus emerged in the country, to July 31, 2020. The committee wants to know the total amount of funds received by each county government for COVID-19 activities and which bank accounts the National Government deposited the funds into.
The Senate also wants the Auditor-General to establish whether county governments produced financial and non-financial reports on COVID-19 funds every month. Additionally, the committee wants to know where the funds were used according to training plans, procurement plans, and work plans.
The Senate is expecting the Auditor-General to report back on any irregularities and mismanagement of the funds. The committee's oversight actions aim to review measures imposed by county and national governments to combat the spread of coronavirus.
