The Auditor General’s Report 2009/2010, Will Anyone be Held to Account?

By Mzalendo Contributor - Moreen Majiwa (@mmajiwa)

Having an independent Auditor General is clearly yielding results.  The Auditor General’s report for the financial year 2009/2010 was recently tabled before parliament and the irregularities just keep mounting. In the last two months the office of the Auditor General has revealed a myriad of faulty accounting practices, and missing or unaccounted for billions from various government ministries:

  • 4.2 billion from the Ministry of Education (Minister-Samuel Ongeri)
  • 3.6 billion from Ministry of Public Health (Minister-Beth Mugo),
  • 889 million from the Roads Ministry (Minister-Franklin Bett)
  • 743 million from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Formerly run by Moses Wetangula, currently Internal Security Minister Prof. George Saitoti is holding the Ministries brief)
  • 662 million from the Ministry of Internal Security Ministry (Minister – Prof. George Saitoti)
  • 408 million from Special Programmes  (Former Minister Naomi Shaban Current Minster Esther Murugi)
  • 196 million from the Ministry of Lands (Minister James Orengo)

*And this is not even a comprehensive list?!

**Ministers Franklin Bett (Roads) and Beth Mugo (Public Health) have dismissed the Auditor General findings.

The Auditor General reports also reveals that several ministries have an outstanding bill to suppliers of Kshs 16 billion. Named again are the Ministry of Roads, Education, Special Programmes, Provincial Administration and Internal Security other bill defaulters include Local Government Ministry, Public Works, Agriculture, Home Affairs. Irregularities have also been noted in the Ministry of Information and Communication.

No doubt we will be treated to the usual buck passing – from Minister to PS to subordinate staff and back again - that accompanies such revelations, promptly followed by denial of responsibility and refusals to resign. However lets hope that the report and the naming of the Ministries involved is the first step in establishing mechanisms that will prevent such pilferage from happening in the future, and holding those responsible to account.

Posted by Mzalendo Editor on July 25, 2011

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