MPs to probe claims of corruption, tribalism at Auditor-General’s office

The Office of the Auditor-General has been put on the spot following allegations of mismanagement, including corruption, abuse of office, tribalism, and favouritism.

The National Assembly Committee on Cohesion and Equal Opportunities has announced it will launch an inquiry into the claims raised by some workers at the AG’s office.

The committee will seek to determine the validity of the accusations, which also include concerns about mismanagement in training and talent development as well as a hostile work environment.

During the session led by Kasipul MP Charles Were, the lawmakers heard that the allegations were serious and warranted an in-depth investigation.

“The committee has received a petition from the staff protesting over alleged mismanagement in the Auditor-General’s office and are seeking our intervention,” Were said.

The staff members, who chose to remain anonymous, alleged that cases of corruption, abuse of office, tribalism, and favouritism have plagued the office.

Fake qualifications

They also claimed that over 200 employees hold fake qualifications, including counterfeit certified public accountant (CPA) certificates, with no action being taken against them.

The workers further stated that the work environment has been mentally taxing, affecting both their well-being and team cohesion.

“Over 200 staff members allegedly possess fake qualifications, including certified public accountant certificates and no action has been taken against them,” the staff report reads in part.

Were indicated that the petitions would be forwarded to the Public Petitions Committee for further consideration.

However, the committee pointed out that the allegations presented by anonymous sources did not meet the required threshold for further intervention.

They noted that the complaints were within the purview of the Public Petitions Committee, which is responsible for handling such matters.

Anonymous report

Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge emphasised that the committee could not act on anonymous reports.

“The law is very clear. Petitions or complaints delivered to the National Assembly must contain details of the authors, such as names and signatures among others,” Mathenge said.

Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan called for caution, suggesting that the issues might be internal disputes arising from recent leadership changes at the office.

He called for professionalism and objectivity in handling the matter to avoid undermining the office.

“The committee needs to be careful while handling the matter. We should be objective and professional to avoid taking a direction that might amount to undermining the AG’s office,” Yusuf said.

He added that such internal conflicts were common in state departments following leadership transitions.

Thorough inquiry

Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana and Mwingi North MP Paul Nzengu supported the inquiry proposal, highlighting the importance of a thorough investigation.

“The committee has the capacity to conduct a thorough inquiry into allegations by the staff with a view of resolving the matter for the smooth running of the AG’s office,” Ikana said.

Mandera West MP Adan Haji also supported the inquiry, asserting that it would either uncover misdeeds within the Auditor-General’s office or clear it of the allegations.

The investigation seeks to provide clarity on the ongoing issues at the Auditor General’s office, which has been facing growing scrutiny over its internal operations.