Bungoma Governor, Kenneth Lusaka, has warned county officials against withholding documents or frustrating an ongoing compliance audit by the Office of the Auditor-General, saying those who fail to cooperate with auditors will face disciplinary action.
The governor directed finance officers, accountants, economists, internal auditors, chief officers and all accounting officers to provide all reports, records and supporting documents required by the audit team within the stipulated timelines.
Speaking during an audit entry meeting at his office on Wednesday, Lusaka said transparency and accountability in the management of public resources remained central to his administration and cautioned that any attempt to delay or obstruct the audit process would attract disciplinary action.
“Let me be very clear. Any officer who withholds documents, fails to submit reports or attempts to obstruct the audit process will be held personally responsible and will face appropriate disciplinary action. There will be no room for complacency where accountability is concerned,” he said.
The governor said the audit should not be viewed as a fault-finding mission but as a constitutional exercise aimed at strengthening public financial management and improving service delivery.
He reminded county staff that the Office of the Auditor-General is an independent constitutional institution mandated to assess whether public funds are managed lawfully, efficiently and for the purposes for which they were appropriated.
Lusaka called on chief officers, directors and heads of departments to take personal responsibility for ensuring their respective departments submit complete documentation and facilitate the audit without unnecessary delays.
“This audit is not a witch-hunt but a constitutional process meant to strengthen accountability and improve service delivery. Every officer must cooperate fully and provide all the information required by the audit team without delay,” he said.
He said the findings of the audit should help the county identify weaknesses in its systems, tighten internal controls, improve financial reporting and enhance accountability in the use of public resources.
“The findings of this audit should help us identify areas for improvement, strengthen our systems and ensure that we continue delivering quality services to the people of Bungoma,” the governor said.
The compliance audit, which began with the entry meeting, will run for 17 days, during which auditors will scrutinize the county government’s financial management systems, accounting records and compliance with the Public Finance Management Act and other relevant laws and regulations.
Lusaka said his administration was committed to full compliance with the law and would use the audit to strengthen governance and safeguard public resources.
By Chris Mahandara
