Auditor General Yet to Audit El Niño and Abduction Compensation Funds

NAIROBI, Kenya - Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has revealed that her office is yet to audit funds allocated by the government for the El Niño response and compensation of victims of forced disappearances and abductions.

Gathungu said the funds are still being utilised and that a comprehensive audit will be undertaken once the financial activities are concluded.

Speaking during the launch of the Handbook on County Accountability, the Auditor General explained that her office intends to examine the expenditure at the close of the current financial year to establish how the money was used.

The announcement comes amid growing public interest in the management of public resources, particularly funds allocated to address emergencies and support victims of human rights violations.

El Niño funds audit to follow after utilisation

The El Niño response funds were allocated to support government interventions during the heavy rains, flooding and related emergencies that affected several parts of the country.

The money was intended to support emergency response measures, including assistance to affected communities and interventions to mitigate the effects of flooding.

However, concerns over the management and accountability of emergency funds have continued to attract attention, with questions being raised about transparency, procurement and the effectiveness of government spending.

Gathungu said her office would conduct the audit after the current utilisation period ends, allowing auditors to assess the expenditure and establish whether the resources were applied appropriately.

Abduction victims' compensation funds also awaiting audit

The Auditor General also confirmed that funds set aside to compensate victims of forced disappearances and abductions have not yet undergone an audit.

The compensation initiative is intended to address the suffering experienced by victims and their families following cases of alleged forced disappearances and abductions.

The decision to conduct the audit after the funds have been utilised means the public will have to wait for a comprehensive assessment of how the compensation resources were distributed and whether the intended beneficiaries received the support.

The issue is particularly significant given the continued public debate surrounding human rights, accountability and the treatment of victims of alleged state-linked violations.

Gathungu responds to World Bank corruption report

During the same event, Gathungu addressed a World Bank report that ranked Kenya among the most corrupt lower-middle-income countries.

She said her office was reviewing the report's findings to identify gaps and lessons that could strengthen accountability mechanisms and improve oversight of public resources.

Her remarks come at a time when public institutions are under increasing pressure to demonstrate transparency in the management of taxpayers' money.

Accountability questions remain

The delay in auditing the two categories of funds raises important questions about the timing of public financial oversight and the mechanisms available to monitor expenditure while government programmes are still ongoing.

While the Auditor General has indicated that audits will be conducted once utilisation is complete, Kenyans will be keen to see whether the eventual reports provide clear answers on the amounts spent, the beneficiaries reached and any irregularities identified.

Under Article 229 of the Constitution of Kenya, the Auditor General is mandated to audit and report on the accounts of public entities and determine whether public resources have been applied lawfully and effectively.

Ultimately, the forthcoming audits will be important in establishing whether the funds achieved their intended objectives and whether public money was managed in accordance with the law.

As the government continues to implement emergency response and compensation programmes, transparency and accountability will remain central to public confidence in the management of national resources.