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"speaker_name": "Mr. Wamunyinyi",
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"legal_name": "Athanas Misiko Wafula Wamunyinyi",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other area which is of importance to us is the Kenya National Audit Office (KNAO). We need to strengthen it by employing enough officers. We realise that many times there have been delays in auditing and submission of accounts to Parliament. While I appreciate the fact that there have been reforms within the KNAO, for 4110 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES November 30, 2006 example, it merged with the Auditor-General (Corporations), there is still need to further improve and strengthen the office of the Controller and Auditor-General to ensure that there are no delays of auditing accounts. We appreciate the fact that the Audit Act empowers the Controller and Auditor-General to hire audit firms from the private sector. These private audit firms are supposed to be bound by the provisions of the Audit Act. This is because, at the end of the day, it is the Controller and Auditor- General himself who signs the audit reports undertaken by the private audit firms. We have had cases where some firms have qualified accounts illegally. It is important also that the audit laws are followed to ensure that we get proper audit reports that represent the real truth and findings by the auditors. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, another thing that will help strengthen the KNAO and ensure that officers in the Ministries and State corporations are kept alert is the idea of carrying out impromptu audits as opposed to depending on annual audits which Government departments and State corporations prepare for beforehand. Normally, they come up with responses to queries that have been raised by the auditors. So, it is important that we conduct impromptu audits. One of the most problematic areas which, in fact, contributes to serious malpractices in this country is procurement. I know that we, as Parliament, have played a role in creating an environment which will prevent such malpractices by strengthening the procurement law. We also know that the problem of corruption, in many places, begins at the procurement stage. Here, we find that tenders are irregularly awarded without regard to the laid down procedures and guidelines. This leads to people colluding to plunder public resources. All these things begin at the procurement stage and goes on even after the tenders have been awarded. When you talk of an ongoing project, room would have been created at the tendering stage for corruption to take place at any level of it. So, this is an area where we need to ensure that there are people, particularly the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) and investigators within our institutions, to monitor whatever is ongoing, so that it is not at the time when we have lost public funds, that we start investigating the processes. The other issue is to do with the backlog of work in terms of the reports of the Controller and Auditor-General for both Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Public Investments Committee (PIC). We realise that hon. Members of the two Committees are currently looking at accounts for past years. In fact, they are still handling reports for 1994, 1995, 1996 up to 2000. When we look at such reports, some of the people involved in malpractices are no longer working for those institutions. Some of them may have retired, others could be dead, while others are senile and cannot come forward to give any evidence. All the Committees do now is to undertake a post mortem exercise. Such cases are very difficult to follow up because, in most cases, much of the information is distorted. We may be forced to ask Parliament to pass a resolution that will enable these Committees to start looking at the current issues. In fact, the audit reports that are still pending for both the PAC and the PIC are for about ten years ago. Whichever way, even if the Committees unearthed anything, it would be very difficult for them to look for witnesses in order to get meaningful information or records. The whole process would be so difficult. Therefore, hon. Members need to find a way that will enable the Committees deal with current evidence. This is very important because if we deal with current issues officers will be put on notice and they will always know that if they make a mistake it will be dealt with immediately, instead of being kept for audit in the future. That way, we will be able to deal with malpractices which are likely to recur. I would, therefore, want to suggest that this House, as it reviews the recommendations in this Report, looks at this matter of backlog of reports. I think a resolution would do in this case. We have various important institutions which affect financial performance directly. Such November 30, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 4111 institutions, include the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA). I am happy that the rehabilitation and refurbishment of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is just about to start. However, there are other areas also that need to be looked at. Obviously, JKIA is the hub of airport activities in our region and so there is every reason for it to be given priority. We, however, need to look at facilities in other airports in the country. We remember the tragic accident which occurred in Busia where we lost our colleague. There was another one which occurred in Marsabit where a number of our colleagues passed on after the helicopter they were in crashed. We are also aware that the Kisumu Airport is being rehabilitated, but the one in the capital of Western Province in Bungoma District has been forgotten. I hope somebody from the Front Bench is taking notes, so that important matters that are raised here are taken seriously and action taken on them. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, Bungoma is such a unique place. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we know it is a border town. It has an airstrip which has been abandoned by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA). I know that some members of the former ruling party, KANU had grabbed part of Bungoma Airstrip but since we put in place measures to restore looted plots, this has since returned to the airstrip. I think it is important that this airport is rehabilitated."
}