Chief auditor gives thumbs up to Rural Electrification Authority

Rural Electrification Authority chairman Simon Gicharu during a meeting with the company board members and working staff at Utalii Hotel, Nairobi on May 11, 2018. PHOTO | WANYIRI KAHITO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The auditor says the cash flows and the financial performance of the institution were in accordance with the international public-sector accounting standards and comply with the Energy Act.

  • The report by the auditor comes at a time that the authority is banking on its promotion to a higher ranking to accelerate provision of power in rural areas.

The Auditor-General Edward Ouko has cleared the Rural Electrification Authority of any financial misappropriation, making it the first public institution to receive a green light from the auditor.

This is according to audit reports for the year ending June 30, 2017, which say the authority’s financial statements were in order.

Mr Ouko says the authority’s management had observed guidelines on the use of public resources.

COMPETITIVE RATES

The auditor says the cash flows and the financial performance of the institution were in accordance with the international public-sector accounting standards and comply with the Energy Act. “I confirm that nothing has come to my attention to cause me to believe that public money has not been applied lawfully and in an effective way,” says Mr Ouko.

The report by the auditor comes at a time that the authority is banking on its promotion to a higher ranking to accelerate provision of power in rural areas. REA has already received approval from the State Corporation Advisory Committee to upgrade to Category Two from Three. With the new category, the agency will be allocated more funds by the Treasury and can employ more staff and remunerate them at competitive rates.