This archive report was first published on 23 November 2019.
Published on November 23, 2019, a parliamentary committee is seeking to change the law governing the appointment of the Auditor General to ensure continuity in the office.
The Public Investment Committee (PIC) has tabled a report recommending an amendment to the Public Audit Act to address the challenge of vacant Auditor General positions.
The committee's chairman, Abdulswamad Nassir, cited the case of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), which had its audited financial statements for 2018/2019 ready but could not be submitted to the National Treasury due to the absence of a substantive Auditor General.
The committee noted that the challenge is not unique to CBK but also affects other agencies, including the Capital Markets Authority, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Kenya Power, KenGen, and East African Portland Cement.
The committee is now recommending that the recruitment of an Auditor General should be concluded within three months of the expiry of the term of the predecessor.
Edward Ouko's term as Auditor General ended on August 27, and the selection panel appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta completed the process only this week, forwarding three names to the President for nomination.
