National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has dismissed allegations that he sponsored a bill seeking to remove the Auditor General as the head of the National Audit Office.

In a statement, Ichung’wah accused his critics of spreading propaganda, claiming they had misrepresented the contents of the bill he presented in Parliament.

He urged those with differing opinions to review the bill on the National Assembly website to verify its contents.

Additionally, he stated that removing the Auditor General as the head of the National Audit Office would be unconstitutional.

A section of Members of Parliament during a past parliamentary proceeding.

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National Assembly

''The propaganda lords have crafted their own non-existent bill on the office of the Auditor General with provisions that only exist in their infertile imaginations,'' Ichung'wah stated.

“All one needs to do is read the bill and the committee’s report on the website, as only fools would believe such unconstitutional things can be crafted. For a factual view of all bills before Parliament, just visit the Parliamentary website and ignore the disingenuous propaganda,” he added.

Ichung’wah’s Public Audit Amendment Bill 2024 seeks, among other provisions, to grant more powers to the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, making him the custodian of the Public Seal and any other state instruments not held by another official.

The bill has attracted public backlash, with Kenyans on social media calling out the Majority Leader over his attempts to introduce unconstitutional provisions.

According to critics, should Parliament pass the bill, the role and functions of the Auditor General would be curtailed.

They further argue that it risks jeopardising the progress made in the fight against the misappropriation of public resources.

However, a closer look at the bill stipulates that the amendment aims to alter the operations of the Office of the Auditor General by introducing new clauses, including the abolition of certain offices and the creation of new ones.

The bill also seeks to introduce a clause requiring consultation with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) regarding the salaries and benefits paid to staff in the Office of the Auditor General.

Furthermore, the bill proposes abolishing the office of the Senior Deputy Auditor General and replacing it with a Deputy Auditor General, who shall be recruited by the Auditor General.

Auditor General Nancy Gathungu speaking at a conference on Monday, April 24, 2023.

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OAG