MPs demand full disclosure of Kenya’s debt from Auditor General

Deputy Auditor General Isaac Kamau speaks when he appeared before the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee on April 24, 2025/HANDOUT

The Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) has demanded full disclosure of Kenya’s debt from the Office of the Auditor General.

Appearing before the committee, Deputy Auditor General Isaac Kamau confirmed the Public Debt Report will be tabled in the first quarter of the next financial year.

Suba South MP Caroli Omondi called for a complete audit of Kenya’s public debt and tax waivers issued by government agencies.

“We need to see a full list of what we owe as a country,” he stated.

Omondi further urged the OAG to submit legislative proposals that would promote fiscal discipline and incentivise compliance, particularly in monitoring digital platforms like eCitizen.

The Auditor General was also put to task over delays in audit reporting, particularly those impacting revenue allocation to counties under Article 229(8) of the Constitution.

On the issue of internal corruption, vice chairperson William Kamket (Tiaty) raised alarm over allegations that some institutions budget for bribes to auditors.

“That’s disturbing. To what extent does corruption among your staff affect your credibility?” he asked.

Echoing the concern, Nambale MP Geoffrey Mulanya added, “If accounting officers are budgeting for auditors without interaction with EACC, something is wrong. Where is the accountability?”

In response, Kamau defended the OAG’s internal measures, noting collaboration with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

“We also conduct post-assignment reviews, rotate staff every three years to prevent familiarity, and require all officers to sign a code of ethics before deployment,” he said.

Addressing criticism over media coverage, Kamau said, “We now have 92 per cent accuracy in mainstream media reporting. Alarmist reporting has significantly declined due to ongoing engagements with journalists.”

Kamau admitted that audit turnaround times remain a challenge but pledged improvements to ensure audits are timely and relevant.

As Kenya grapples with rising debt and fiscal demands, the CIOC Committee emphasised that accurate, timely, and corruption-free auditing is not just a constitutional requirement, it’s crucial to maintain public trust.