Cabinet approves Bill to enhance Auditor General’s independence, transparency

The Cabinet has given its nod to the Public Audit Amendment Bill 2023, a move aimed at bolstering the independence and transparency of the Auditor General.

President William Ruto made this announcement during his address at the Kenya Revenue Authority Tax Day event, revealing the importance of this move.

Why Cabinet approval

He stated that the primary objectives of this amendment are twofold. First, it seeks to ensure the efficient utilization of public resources through comprehensive and transparent audits.

He added that the bill will empower the Auditor General’s office to carry out thorough investigations into instances of fraud, reinforcing the commitment to combating corruption.

President Ruto reiterated his government’s unwavering stance against corruption, declaring that tolerance for such practices is non-existent.

“Our tolerance for corruption is absolute zero. In line with this, today the cabinet approved the Public Audit Amendment Bill 2023 which will enhance the auditor general’s independence and transparency to ensure proper utilization of public resources through audits and also provide power for fraud investigation,” Ruto stated.

Acknowledging the historical challenges associated with auditing and accountability, Ruto expressed the government’s dedication to addressing these issues.

Auditor General office

He stressed the need to provide the Auditor General’s office with the requisite capacity, flexibility, and autonomy to hold all government departments accountable for their actions.

“This has been a challenge in the past, but as a government that places high value on accountability, we are committed to ensuring that the Auditor General’s office is fully equipped to hold every government agency and ministry accountable to the people of Kenya through rigorous audits. Our goal is to ensure responsible and prudent use of the people’s resources,” Ruto concluded.