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Ichung’wah denies drafting bill to get rid of auditor general

Ichung’wah denies drafting bill to get rid of auditor general
Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah speaking at a past event. PHOTO/@KIMANIICHUNGWAH/X

National Assembly Majority Leader and Kikuyu Member of Parliament (MP) Kimani Ichung’wah has denied sponsoring a bill seeking to remove the auditor general as the head of the National Audit Office.

Following a damning report by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, which claimed that the government does not own or control the ambitious Ksh104.8 billion Social Health Authority (SHA), the said bill started doing rounds on social media.

The bill reportedly sought to give the Audit Advisory Board control over budgets, human resources, and other key decisions, limiting the auditor general’s autonomy.

However, Ichung’wah in a statement shared via his official X account on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, dismissed the said bill as mere propaganda.

A screenshot of Kimani Ichung’wah’s statement. PHOTO/Screengrab by People Daily Digital from a statement shared on X by @KIMANIICHUNGWAH

Ichung’wah on reported bill

Ichung’wah stated that the bill in circulation, which he termed as non-existent, had been crafted by propaganda lords, whom he says used provisions that only existed in their imaginations.

“The propaganda lords have crafted their own nonexistent bill on the office of the Auditor General with provisions that only exist in their infertile imaginations,” Ichung’wah stated.

He urged Kenyans to ignore the said bill and instead read the bill and the committee’s report and visit the official parliament website to confirm the facts.

“All one needs to do is to READ the bill and the committee’s report also on the website, as ONLY FOOLS would believe such unconstitutional things can be crafted. For a factual view of all bills before Parliament, just visit the Parliamentary website and IGNORE the disingenuous propaganda,” Ichung’wah stated.

President William Ruto on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, also dismissed reports that his Kenya Kwanza administration breached the law in procuring a healthcare information technology digitization system worth Ksh104 billion.

Speaking at the late Malava MP Malulu Injendi’s burial ceremony, Ruto explained that his administration formed a consortium with several companies to help protect the Social Health Authority (SHA) from fraud.

He further explained the government would not pay for the service but maintained it was obtained on a key for service facility arrangements.

Ndio sababu nimefanya consortium kubwa… Tukasema, we are going to have a consortium of technology companies that is going to make sure that there are no fraudulent claims in SHA, and they are going to make sure that the system will not be paid for by the government of Kenya; it will be a key for a service facility that will make sure we protect citizens contributions. (That is why we have formed a big consortium. We said we are going to have a big consortium of technology companies that is going to make sure that there are no fraudulent claims in SHA, and they are going to make sure that system will not be paid for by the government of Kenya; it will be a key for a service facility that will make sure we protect citizens contributions,” Ruto explained.

Gathungu’s findings

The Auditor General’s report on state organs for the year 2023-2024 listed unbudgeted and non-competitive procurement, undefined scope of works, lack of agreements on payments, and unfavorable contract clauses as some of the shortcomings of SHA.

It also added that the government paid Ksh104 billion for the technology.

“The State Department procured the Healthcare Information Technology Digitization System of Ksh104 billion.”

“However, a review of tender documents, contract agreements, and financial proposals indicated the following unsatisfactory matters,” Nancy Gathungu’s report read in part.

The damning revelation triggered a series of reactions online, with various people calling for proper accountability on the matter.

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