Auditor-General holds the second Consultative Meeting with the Chairpersons of select Parliamentary Audit Committees

Auditor-General FCPA Nancy Gathungu, CBS, called on Parliament to expedite changes to the Public Finance Management Act (PFM), 2012. These amendments aim to provide more time for audits and enforce penalties for late submission of Financial Statements.

Speaking during a meeting with the Chairpersons of select Parliamentary Audit Committees on 26 November 2024, at a Nairobi Hotel, the AG proposed that public entities submit their Financial Statements by 31 July each year, instead of 30 September. This change would allow an additional two months for audits.

The Auditor-General also stressed the need for stricter penalties for late submissions and requested regular consultations to avoid duplicate special audit requests, which strain resources. MPs committed to supporting these changes and advocating for increased funding for the Office of the Auditor-General.

The key action points discussed during the meeting included the need for regular engagements between the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) and Parliamentary Committees. There was also a focus on promoting cross-committee collaboration to avoid duplicate audit requests. Additionally, there was a call for increased funding for the OAG to outsource audits.

More discussions on Performance Audit reports were also encouraged. Finally, there was an emphasis on aligning amendments to the PFM Act, 2015, and the Public Audit Act, 2015, to ensure uniform timelines when conducting audits.