PAC puts ministries, departments on notice over accounts

By Allan Kisia 

NAIROBI, KENYA: A parliamentary committee has warned government ministries and departments against delaying to complete auditing of accounts before the end of every financial year. 

The Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday vowed to impose “sanctions” to government ministries and departments that fail to adhere to the directive. 

Committee chairman and Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba said the National Assembly will withhold the budgets of errant ministries until they submit audited reports. 

“We will recommend that no money is given to you until you account for what had been given to you earlier. You cannot ask for more money when you cannot tell us how you spent the previous allocation,” he explained. 

Committee members lamented that accounting officials in government offices do not take auditing seriously, thereby disrupting the budget process. 

Nyatike MP Omondi Anyanga said proper systems should be put in place in accounting offices to expedite the auditing process. 

“We should invite the people who supply computer software to government offices. They will be in a position to tell us where the delays start,” he added. 

Members were however categorical that computers cannot be blamed for the delays in auditing. “If we capture data after every two months, there will not be any delays,” said Anyanga. 

They spoke during a committee meeting with Planning PS Peter Magiti. 

Ababu said officials in-charge of computer systems in accounting offices will appear before the committee next week to explain to members how the process works. 

“If we find the system is hindering accounting procedures, then we will make proper recommendations,” he added. 

He however complained that many government offices do not handle accounting matters with the seriousness deserved. “I am seeing lack of diligence. Auditing is just not taken seriously,” he stated. 

Magiti said accounting offices are upgrading their systems to reduce delays in auditing and other processes.

“Our accounts staff are undergoing training to improve their skills. Part of the problem is the capacity of officers to carry out their work correctly. We don’t want to fail tomorrow,” he noted. 

He said the Government is committed to doing business in a different way.

When he appeared before the committee, accompanied with officials from his office, it emerged that the ministry had not audited all accounts.