Garissa regional hub office that was officially opened by the Auditor General Edward Ouko. [Photo-lVictor Wanaswa]
The auditor general office will enhance its oversight of projects and programmes in counties to ensure prudent use of resources allocated to them. Speaking in Garissa when he officially opened the regional hub office, the Auditor General Edward Ouko said that with more resources being allocated to the counties, it calls for closer supervision and monitoring so that the common mwananchi can get value for money. “It is not only about auditing and coming up with the report, but ensuring that resources that go into programmes and projects impact positively on the common mwananchi,” Ouko said. The counties have been blamed on misuse of public resources and inflating the cost of projects that have led to massive wastage. “To ensure this does not happen, we are spreading our wings to each and every county by building more offices and posting enough staff. This is one way of ensuring that projects are delivered on time and resources better utilized,” said Ouko. Terming the Garissa audit office, the first to be built by his office as a landmark Ouko said that it took a record 18 months to be completed. The two-story building cost shs 160 million. “We have demonstrated through this project that public money can be prudently utilized and delivered on time. This should be an eye-opener for the counties and other departments with the intention of coming up with such or similar projects,” Ouko said. The Auditor General said that there are plans to build similar offices in Kakamega and Eldoret in the next few years. Land for the projects have already been acquired, he added. Ouko regretted that all audit offices in the country are rented including the headquarters. He also noted that ‘it was unfortunate that countries like Rwanda, Uganda, and South Sudan who look upon Kenya as an economic powerhouse in the region have built offices while Kenya has lagged behind.“Even southern Sudan that got independence the other day has an office block for the Auditor General,” he said. North Eastern regional commissioner Mohamud Saleh who was the chief guest challenged the office of the auditor general to closely monitor the huge financial resources being given to counties by the national government. Saleh said that despite the three counties of Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera having received over Sh30 billion annually, ‘there little to write home about’.