Auditor General Reveals Suspicious Activity in Uhuru’s Secret Account

Auditor General Edward Ouko has revealed some suspicious activities in a secret multi-million shilling account in the office of the President.

The chief government auditor exposed that some goods purchased via the confidential budget were not delivered, other expenditures lacked approval documents and spending was not captured in the government e-payments system labelled the Integretated Financial Management System (IFMIS).

According to Ouko, the account is surrounded by weak controls and lack of documentation.

Mr Ouko stated that lack of proper documentation to support expenditure makes it difficult for the audit office to judge whether the spending was lawful and incurred for the intended purpose.

 

[caption caption="President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto"][/caption]

“Further, verification of the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMIS) shows that these payments were not posted in the IFMIS ledger, an indication that they could have been unexplained cash withdrawals,” Mr Ouko stated in a qualified audit opinion of the financial statements of the Presidency for the year ending June 2016.

It is a requirement for payments from national government and counties to be made through IFMIS to track expenditures and fraudulent dealings.

A payment of Sh165.5 Million to suppliers of motor vehicles was one of the items that could not be traced in the IFMIS ledger.

The office of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, has spent more than Sh2.7 Billion over the past three years from the account.

The Presidency — which comprises the offices of Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto — spent Sh685.7 Million in their first year in office that ended June 2014, Sh937.5 Million (2015) and Sh1.1 Billion (2016) from the confidential account.

While the expenditures were kept out of the public’s scrutiny, the Presidency shared details with the auditors.

[caption caption="Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed"][/caption]

In March, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary (CS) Amina Mohamed mentioned of the secret account when she explained that it was to facilitate diplomatic matters.

She argued the confidential account for Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto is critical for influencing opinion in diplomatic circles.