INTERNAL AUDIT CONTROLS ENHANCED TO SAFEGUARD RESOURCES

The County Government of Kakamega today conducted a workshop for the County Audit Committee and the County Chief Officers towards compliance of public finance management regulations.

Addressing the accounting officers while opening the workshop Thursday on behalf of the Governor H.E. FCPA Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, the County Secretary Madam Jacinta Aluoch Odhiambo said Kakamega is committed to attaining clean audit opinions from the Senate’s Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) once responses are done to the satisfaction of members and the Auditor General who raises querries on expenditure.

The CS informed participants that plans had been put in place by the County government to ensure strong internal audit controls including granting independence to the Audit Department.

She thanked the Head of Internal Audit CPA Humphrey Wanyama for spearheading good relationship strategies between auditors and stakeholders.

“Such trainings will make most of us become auditors in our own capacities and this will make your work more effective than before,” she said.

The participants were taken through risk management, the roles of accounting officers, internal audit, audit committee and international controls.

While concluding the workshop, the CEC Member for Finance and Planning Mr. Geoffrey Omulayi challenged both the Kakamega County Audit Committee and the county’s Internal Audit unit to uphold teamwork, openness and honesty when engaging stakeholders on internal controls. He said good governance is stabilised by strong audit practices and called on the Department of Internal Audit to observe high standards of professionalism when carrying out their duties.

“In liaison with the office of the County Ombudsman, you ought to bring out in a timely manner hindsight, insight and foresight issues affecting prudent governance and help us deliver the Governor’s manifesto to the people of Kakamega County efficiently,” said Mr. Omulayi.

The Chairman of the Kakamega County Audit Committee CPA Tubman Walaba and the Head of Internal Audit CPA Humphrey Wanyama thanked the county government for putting in place an enabling environment for them to offer much needed oversight role objectively.

Also present were Deputy County Secretary Mr. Joshua Kutekha, County Chief of Staff Mr. Robert Sumbi together with his Deputy Hon. Hebert Sore, Departmental Heads John Koveti (Procurement), Beautrice Memo (Revenue) and Samson Obwanga (Accounts). Other represented departments were Communication and Legal.