She told the forum that auditing standards require that besides just reporting, the Office of the Auditor-General to have appropriate mechanisms for following up audit findings and recommendations.
Parliament has also, over the years raised concerns about the lack of an effective mechanism for follow up on implementation of audit recommendations, leading to recurrence of audit queries in subsequent audit reports.
The Auditor-General, said in an effort to address this gap and in line with the Office’s Mission of Audit services that impact on effective and sustainable service delivery, the Office has developed an internal framework for tracking, follow-up and reporting on implementation of audit recommendations.
The Auditor-General said the Office has proposed sanctions for public entities that do not implement audit recommendations.
“We have submitted our recommendations to Parliament to review the Public Finance Management Act, 2012, to make implementation of audit recommendations mandatory to all public entities and introduce and enforce sanctions to those who fail to comply,” she said.
The event at the Norfolk Hotel, Nairobi, was also attended by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji, CBS, Secretary, State Corporations Advisory Committee, Wanjiku Kogi, Acting Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Dr. Hamisi Masa, Chief Executive Officer, Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (PSAB) FCPA Fredrick Riaga, Deputy Controller of Budget (COB) Stephen Masha, Acting Director Forensic Investigations – Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) George Ojowi. Others included representatives from The National Assembly and The Senate, Commissions and Independent Offices, and The National Treasury.
In his remarks, the Director of Public Prosecution Mr. Noordin Haji, CBS urged Parliament to ensure that entities honour Parliamentary summons and sermon those that fail to turn up.
The Auditor-General proposed the establishment of a consultative forum made up of Heads of CCIOs that will institute structures for cooperation to enhance the implementation of Parliament and County Assembly Committees’ recommendations.
The objectives of the forum, were to:
Discuss the framework for cooperation between Constitutional Commissions, Independent Offices and other oversight bodies
Coordinate and collaborate in the implementation of recommendations made to them in their oversight capacity
Build a mechanism for follow-up on implementation of recommendations and report back to Parliament and county assemblies on the status of recommendations
Institute a roadmap for pursuit of possible administrative, legal and policy actions and changes which may be required to enhance accountability in the use of public funds.