Financial, accounting and supply chain officers serving Parliament have been urged to remain agile and uphold high standards of financial management as they work towards securing clean audit opinions.

The call was made during the opening of a week-long working retreat in Naivasha attended by officers from the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) Secretariat and the Senate on July 8, 2026.

In remarks delivered on behalf of the Clerk of the Senate and Secretary to the Parliamentary Service Commission, Jeremiah Nyegenye, Deputy Clerk Eunice Gichangi challenged the officers to go beyond routine compliance and ensure their work supports the institution’s broader objectives.

“Effective financial reporting goes beyond simply meeting statutory obligations,” the clerk’s address stated.

“It is about aligning our financial practices with the broader organizational goals, ensuring that these goals are clear, measurable, and achievable.”

Financial reporting

The retreat has brought together officers from Finance, Accounting and Supply Chain Management Services for the Parliamentary Service Commission Secretariat (Vote 2041) and the Senate (Vote 2044).

The forum is reviewing expenditure against approved budgets while ensuring all activities remain aligned with work plans and procurement schedules.

Under the Public Finance Management Act, the officers are required to prepare quarterly and annual financial reports that form part of the Annual Report and Financial Statements submitted to the Office of the Auditor General.

The Quarter Four report is due to the National Treasury on July 15, while the End of Year Report is expected to be submitted by August 31.

The retreat is also reviewing progress in the transition from cash-based to accrual-based International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), which is now in its third year of implementation.

Adapting to change

Gichangi commended the officers for their resilience while working in a demanding environment that requires regular engagement with Senators and Commissioners.

She said the teams continue to perform effectively despite frequent changes in public finance reporting requirements issued by the National Treasury.

“Treasury says, now we are doing this. In a short while, again, they will say, now we’ve changed. It is this way. But we appreciate that you have been agile,” Gichangi said.

She also acknowledged the officers’ role in supporting the Accounting Officer and managing the increasing demands of public financial management. Gichangi said Parliament remains focused on strengthening accountability and improving procurement processes to deliver value for money.

She said fair and competitive procurement remains a key priority as the institution works towards maintaining high standards in financial management. “Our collective goal is to achieve a clean audit opinion, and unqualified audit reports for the two Votes,” Deputy Clerk Gichangi said.

She called on the officers to continue working together to ensure transparency, accountability and timely delivery of statutory financial reports.