Parliamentary committees have raised serious concerns over the quality of audit reports coming from the Auditor General’s office, calling into question the integrity of public financial oversight.

Members of Parliament claim that some audit reports fail to highlight major irregularities while clearing agency executives of accountability, forcing them to uncover breaches through their own investigations.

During a joint session of the Public Investment Committee on Governance and the Education Committee on Wednesday, Bumula MP Wanami Wamboka accused the audit office of softening findings and allowing questionable practices to go unchecked.

“The quality of reports are wanting. Parliament will not be used to rubberstamp illegalities in government. Auditors meet with agencies; they clear them and bring to us to rubberstamp,” he said.

Bomachoge Chache MP Alfah Miruka supported the criticism, stating that the committees will not serve as a conduit for flawed audits.

“We cannot be used to rubberstamp something that we do not understand,” he said, stressing that both auditors and agency leaders must be held responsible for lapses.

The committees have scheduled a meeting with Auditor General Nancy Gathungu next week to address what they term “compromised” reports.

Wamboka said they will also question the directors who signed off on the audits.

“We want the director who was directly involved in the audit,” he said, adding that accountability will be enforced at every level.

The concerns emerged during the review of the 2023-24 audit report for the Kenya Space Agency, where acting director general

Hillary Kipkosgey had to postpone the session due to objections from MPs.

“I am afraid Mr Auditor we will not proceed,” Wamboka told her, indicating that the committee would require a fresh audit of the agency’s accounts. Kipkosgey responded, “Chair, I am a bit confused but guided.”

Similar issues were noted in the Kenya National Qualifications Authority audit report. According to documents presented to the committee, auditors highlighted only minor issues while leaving out more serious ones.

“In some instances, they left out some big issues and only highlighted the flimsy ones,” Wamboka said.

In the Kenya Space Agency audit, the Auditor General flagged staffing challenges, noting that 14 positions had been filled in acting capacity for over a year.

MPs say this shows deeper governance and accountability issues, prompting a thorough review and a possible re-audit of the agency’s finances.