Ouko downplays Treasury job talk

Outgoing Auditor General Edward Ouko. [File, Standard]

Outgoing Auditor General Edward Ouko has dismissed speculation that he is in the running for the Treasury Cabinet Secretary job.

Ouko, whose eight-year non-renewable term ended on Tuesday, was tight-lipped on his future, only saying he would “continue fighting corruption.”

“I have not been approached for anything. I’m leaving office ... there’s still so much to do, and I think it’s our responsibility individually whether you’re in government or not for the fight against corruption and impunity to continue,” said Ouko.

He was speaking at the University of Nairobi where he delivered a third final public lecture as part of a public engagement drive as he exits office.

The Treasury docket fell vacant after erstwhile boss Henry Rotich was charged over to the Sh63 billion dams scandal and consequently suspended last month. Labour CS Ukur Yattani was appointed in an acting capacity.

Mr Ouko further suggested radical proposals that the future the auditor general should adopt to enhance accountability in the management of public funds.

He said his successor should be allowed to make statements before budget readings, highlighting how the previous budget was spent.

“Otherwise, we may end up with budgets continuously loaded with wastage,” said Mr Ouko.

He described the job that he was at first reluctant to take as “the most fulfilling in his life.”

He said one of the key challenges when he took over in 2011 was an unmotivated workforce due to low salaries, with most of them yet to fully embrace technology. For a staff of 1,000, said Ouko, there were only 70 laptops to go around, while the desktops were hardly being used.

“Staff were really low-paid and there was no motivation you could derive from them unless you started addressing their welfare issues,” he said.

Mr Ouko said one of the highlights of his legacy is having laid solid systems to solve integrity issues among the staff, thus reducing chances of compromise.