Duale’s Public Audit Bill reeks of a scheme to loot the coffers
What you need to know:
- Treasury wants it to rely wholly on funding from Treasury, meaning it will work at the pleasure of the Executive.
The Public Audit Bill, 2014, sponsored by Majority Leader Adan Duale, has all the hallmarks of a scheme to loot public coffers.
It gives room to protect fraudsters, scammers, grabbers and the rest of the thieving community close to the seat of power.
The Bill wants action taken against the Auditor General, including being jailed, for finding fraudulent schemes that “would unfairly prejudice the commercial interests of anybody or person...” supplying the armed forces with goods or services.
It also prohibits Kenya National Audit Office (Kenao) from auditing KDF, Police and NIS. Additionally, Kenao staff will be interdicted by PSC if they report fraud that the Executive is unhappy about.
Kenao is requesting a budget of Sh5 billion to recruit professionals who will audit all 47 counties, but Parliament plans to cut that by half.
Treasury wants it to rely wholly on funding from Treasury, meaning it will work at the pleasure of the Executive.
The parliamentary Committee on Finance, Planning and Trade, headed by Mr Benjamin Langat is behind this plot to take us back to the dark days of Kanu looting. I wish the President had instead instructed Duale to have the Leadership and Integrity Act amended to reflect Chapter 6 of the Constitution.
Kenya is operating with a law that is unconstitutional. This bad law allowed criminals to run for political office. The consequences are massive corruption and land grabbing.
KARIUKI MUIRI, Karatina
