Internal Auditors in Kenya will now be subjected to an examination after the Institute of Internal Auditors Kenya (IIA Kenya) announced it plans to introduce an examination to gauge the Auditors’ competency while at the same time ensuring that only those who excel are allowed to practice.
IIA Kenya Chairperson Ms. Lilian Wangeci Mwangi said the initiative is part of the reforms the Auditors’ Body is putting in place to address competencies that internal auditors should demonstrate in their profession.
“Currently, the Institute of Internal Auditors Kenya is working on establishing an internal audit exam that is domiciled in Kenya, and so we are developing a curriculum that will speak to the internal auditor, specifically addressing the competences that an internal auditor should demonstrate in their work”, Ms. Mwangi stated.
She added “Right now, we don’t have an internal audit exam that is domiciled in Kenya, and so when we establish this exam, we believe that it will define the internal auditor in Kenya in terms of the requisite qualifications that they should be having to be able to deliver in their work satisfactorily”.
The IIA Kenya Chairperson made the remarks last evening in Nairobi during the third Internal Audit and Risk Awards celebrations of individuals and organizations that have demonstrated excellence in internal audit and risk.
She emphasized that the Awards encourages internal auditors and risk professionals to not only carry out their work well but also uphold integrity and professional standards thereby elevating the internal audit profession in the country.
Ms. Mwangi also revealed that IIA Kenya is currently not recognized like other professional organizations in the country due to the inability to examine auditors.
“If you look at internal auditors in Kenya, we don’t have an exam that defines who we are, and so we are looking at establishing that exam that will also speak to the internal auditor in terms of incorporating the different skills or competences that an internal auditor should have”, she said.
At the same time, Ms. Mwangi said IIA Kenya has formulated an Internal auditors’ Bill whose outcome seeks to shield the auditors’.
She said the bill will also empower internal auditors to work without fear without fear of retaliation or victimization.
“This act will also enforce disciplinary mechanisms to ensure that the internal auditors work within standards and any internal auditor who is not complying to the set standards globally or the code of ethics can face the disciplinary actions within the institute”, Ms. Mwangi added.
In attendance was the Kenya School of Government Director General Prof. Nura Mohamed as well as the Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (PSASB) Chief Executive Officer FCPA. Georgina Muchai among others.
Prof. Mohamed said the government has enacted a zero-fault audit to upscale accountability and minimize audit queries within the public sector.
“A zero-fault audit is a reform set out by the government, so that the issue of accountability is upscaled to a level where all of us in the public sector can respond to all audit issues raised during the audit, whether it is internal audit or external audit”, he explained.
by Douglas Namunane and Wangari Ndirangu
