Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu has warned of a looming crisis in post-August 2027 General Election if county governments and all procurement entities are not taken to task to clear pending bills.
Speaking in Trans Nzoia, Gathungu urged all procurement entities to ensure that all pending bills are cleared to avoid a scenario where incoming administrations decline to take full responsibility.
Gathungu urged accounting officers to remain accountable for public assets and resources, noting that accountability is an essential component in public service delivery and that all public officers should be sensitized on the same.
Noting that the current audit cycle comes at a time when elections are approaching, Gathungu assured of professionalism in the audit process and urged political leaders not to view the final report through a political lens.
On government assets, the Auditor-General noted that land is an emotive issue that must be handled with care, adding that there is an exercise which is ongoing requiring all public sector entities to declare their assets and ensure proper documentation of public land.
She informed that if the assets are declared, more so land with conflicts, it will often lead to audit queries.
The Auditor-General called for proper implementation and documentation of National and County government projects to avoid duplication and wastage of public resources.
She hailed the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Initiative as an essential component in youth empowerment programme, if well-coordinated, and called for professional support to ensure businesses are viable.
Gathungu emphasized the need for clear guidelines, functional committees, preparedness, and identification of evacuation centres, noting that there have been gaps in earlier disaster preparedness and fragmentation in response.
She said the National Government is seeking more funding for disaster response and called for early mapping to ensure appropriate and prompt budgetary allocations, rather than waiting until a disaster strikes.
“The weatherman has issued a six-month warning about the possibility of experiencing El Niño; let us not wait until we are there to start chasing shadows. A proper guided legal framework should be in place to mitigate the effects,” she said.
Receiving the Auditor-General on behalf of Trans Nzoia County Commissioner, Hussein Allasow Hussein, and Deputy County Commissioner, Emma Kibara, who reported that NYOTA beneficiaries in Trans Nzoia County had benefited from a 20-day on-the-job training.
She said the programme had received mixed feedback; while there are many success stories, a few beneficiaries misused the funds. She called for a change of mindset among the youth and enhanced monitoring.
By Isaiah Nayika
