The National Assembly has organized a four-day workshop to induct Members of the House Watchdog Committees on how to effectively hold the Executive to account, make law and upscale their representation role.

The induction is organized by the Directorate of Audit, Appropriations and other Select Committees.

The forum which starts tomorrow (Friday) and runs through Sunday will be held at Pride Inn Paradise Hotel and Conference Centre in Mombasa County.

As per the programme, the workshop is tailored to help the legislators explore ways of enhancing the relationship between Parliament and other stakeholders, with an aim of improving accountability in the public sector.

Among the House audit committees lined up for induction is the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)chaired by Nominated  MP, John Mbadi, the Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy headed by Pokot South MP, Hon. David Pkosing.

Others are the Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture chaired by Navakholo MP, Hon.Emmanuel Wangwe, Specialized Accounts Funds Committee,  headed by Migori Women representative Fatuma Mohamed and the Decentralized Fund Accounts Committee Chaired by Mwingi Central MP, Hon. Gideon Mulyungi.

The theme of the workshop is “Setting the Stage for Effective and Efficient Service Delivery: Induction of Audit of Committees”.

“In line with their financial audit mandate, the six (6) Audit Committees have organized a round table familiarization conference with key stakeholders within the remit of their financial oversight mandate,” the programme’s preamble reads in part.

It adds: “This will involve discussions on matters of financial accountability, the role, and mandate of the various institutions in the sector and their relationship with the financial audit Committees of the National Assembly”.

According to Director Audit, appropriations and   other select Committees Directorate, Ms. Florence Atenyo-Abonyo, the objective of the induction is to understand the general operations of the Committees of the House with emphasis on the mandate and role of the Committee in holding the Executive to account, making law and representation.

The forum is also intended to elucidate the roles of the Chairperson, Members, and Secretariat of Committees in facilitating the achievement of the committees’ mandates.

Further, the workshop will focus on strengthening the cooperation and partnership between the Committees and relevant stakeholders, while outlining the powers and privileges of Committees.

Mwingi Centra’s Gideon Mulyungi who  chairs the Decentralized Fund Accounts Committee (DFAC) says the induction will equip Members of Committees to effectively and efficiently carry out their duties and be equipped with the requisite skills for oversight of public expenditure.

“The DFAC committee has the unenviable task of reviewing the more that 4,000 audit reports that go back as far as 2013. The committees mandate is to examine audited accounts. So if we can bring the books to date we will have accomplished our oversight role. That’s our goal,” Mulyungi said in an interview. 

Participants in the roundtable discussion will include National Treasury and Economic Planning Principal Secretary, Dr. Chris Kiptoo, Director General Accounting Services and Quality Assurance, and the Director General, Public Investment and Portfolio Management.

Others are the Auditor-General, CPA Nancy Gathungu, Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakango, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Chief Executive Officer, Twalib Mbaruk and the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji.

Other resource persons invited to the workshop include: the Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA-Kenya) Kwame Owino, the Inspector General of State Corporations; Director General, Public Procurement Regulatory Authority; Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK); and National Coordinator, Institute of Social Accountability (TISA).

The forum is scheduled to kick off with  a presentation by veteran politician and chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, Hon. John Mbadi on the historical background, mandate, and roles of watchdog committees. Hon Mbadi who is currently serving his 4th term is also expected to take Members through his reflections and experiences on the same. 

Thereafter, there will be Round Table discussion on how to ensure proper financial accountability; role, mandate, and functions of the following vis-a-viz relationship with Watchdog Committees.

Also expected to attend the workshop is National Assembly’s Deputy Clerk, Ms. Serah Kioko.

With planned privatization of State Corporation and agencies, Director General Investments and Portfolio Management will follow in quick succession give a presentation on the government shareholding in State Corporations and the State Corporations’ privatization programme and process.

President William Ruto has backed the privatization of State Corporations in a bid to raise more funding for the government.

Privatization is expected to see the sale of government firms to the public through initial public offers (IPOs) in addition to further divestitures to State-run firms that are already listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).

With Auditor General’s  Nancy Gathungu kicking off a storm a fortnight ago that Kenyans who steal from public coffers should invest in Kenya, on Saturday, she is scheduled to take the legislators through the production of audit reports by the Auditor General, common audit queries, and how they can be avoided.

Ms. Wanjiku Kihoro, the National Coordinator, Institute of Social Accountability (TISA) is scheduled to present a topic on restoring accountability and public trust in the use and allocation of public resources. 

The Institute of Certified Public Accountants (ICPAK) will crown the workshop with a detailed presentation on the need to create and strengthen strategic partnerships for effective oversight.