Written By Lisa Murimi
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has raised concerns over the challenges facing the Auditor General’s Office, which he says hinder its ability to effectively carry out its mandate.Â
Speaking on Friday during an interview with Spice FM, Sifuna revealed that the office, led by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, struggles with underfunding, leaving its officers unable to perform basic tasks such as attending Senate meetings.
“There are instances where Senate Public Accounts Committee meetings are adjourned because officers from the Kisumu hub of the Auditor General’s office couldn’t travel to Nairobi due to lack of fare,” Sifuna stated.
This comes months after Gathungu protested against budget cuts amounting to over Sh270 million, warning that such reductions would affect the preparation of audit reports for both national and county governments.
She has previously called for a protected fund to ensure the office’s independence from budgetary interference by Parliament and the National Treasury.
Sifuna also criticized the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for delays in prosecuting graft cases forwarded by the Senate’s Public Accounts Committee.
He revealed that over 150 cases have been submitted in the past two years, with little to no feedback from the EACC.
The senator emphasized the need for increased funding to ensure the Auditor General’s office can operate efficiently.
