Auditor General Nancy Gathungu is under scrutiny following allegations of malpractice raised by some staff members within her office.
The National Assembly Committee on Cohesion and Equal Opportunities, in a statement issued on November 19, announced plans to launch an inquiry into claims of abuse of office, corruption, tribalism, favoritism, and mismanagement within the Office of the Auditor General.
During a session chaired by Kasipul MP Charles Were, the committee revealed that the allegations stemmed from a petition submitted by a section of the Auditor General’s staff.
“The Committee has received a petition from staff protesting alleged malpractices in the office and are seeking our intervention,” MP Were stated.
The MPs unanimously agreed that the gravity of the claims warranted a thorough investigation.
Claims of Misconduct
According to the petition, which was submitted anonymously, the staff alleged rampant issues within the office, including:
- Corruption and abuse of office.
- Tribalism and favoritism in training and talent development.
- A hostile work environment causing mental distress and undermining cohesiveness.
- Over 200 employees allegedly possessing fake qualifications, such as counterfeit Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certificates, with no action taken.
Despite the severity of these allegations, the committee ruled that the anonymous nature of the petition fell short of the threshold required for intervention.
Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge emphasized the importance of transparency, stating,
“Petitions submitted to the National Assembly must include clear details of the authors, such as names and signatures.”
Calls for Caution and Professionalism
Kamukunji MP Abdi Yusuf Hassan urged the committee to handle the matter with caution, citing internal conflicts triggered by leadership changes as a potential underlying cause.
“We need to remain objective and professional to avoid undermining the Office of the Auditor General,”
Hassan advised, noting similar squabbles have been observed in other state departments following leadership transitions.
Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana and Mwingi North MP Paul Nzengu supported the proposed inquiry, emphasizing its potential to uncover the truth and resolve the matter for the smooth functioning of the office.
Mandera West MP Adan Haji echoed their sentiments, stating that an investigation would either expose the alleged misconduct or vindicate the Auditor General’s office.
The National Assembly’s Petitions Committee will now take up the matter for detailed scrutiny and determine the next course of action.
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