Governor Natembeya named six-member audit team to boost accountability

In a move to plug financial leakages and strengthen public trust, Governor George Natembeya has inaugurated the Trans Nzoia County Executive Audit Committee.

The move signals a renewed commitment to transparency in the county’s management of public resources.

The committee, established under Section 155(5) of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, 2012, and the PFM Regulations, 2015, is designed to ensure every shilling allocated to Trans Nzoia county is accounted for and spent for the benefit of residents.

Natembeya said the initiative aligns with national government guidelines introduced in 2016 to strengthen corporate governance within devolved units.

“This is not just a legal formality. A functional audit committee is directly linked to improved performance and the protection of public interests,” the governor said, emphasising the role of independent oversight in safeguarding county resources.

The committee will be chaired by Tulienge Anne Nangila. Members are Makokha Shadrack Nasengo, Mwitari Geoffrey Kiruki, Simwelo Hudson Juma and Scholastic Nalobile. Andrew Wepukhulu Wekesa will serve as secretary and Head of Internal Audit.

Built on four pillars — oversight, control, evaluation and value creation — the committee will oversee financial reporting, examine internal control systems and evaluate county programmes against intended outcomes.

The governor said independent oversight is essential for early detection of potential risks and for protecting public funds from mismanagement.

To maintain objectivity, committee members will not engage in executive or management functions.

Instead, they will provide a “constructive challenge” to county leadership and offer an independent perspective to assure residents of cost-effective and lawful governance.

“Our residents have an undeniable right to know how their resources are being used,” Natembeya said.

“The work of this committee is essential to building and maintaining public trust. By upholding the national values of accountability and integrity, we will ensure our county remains a leader in prudent fiscal management.”

He directed the committee to focus immediately on high-risk areas identified in previous audit reports.

These include resolving unsupported payments, managing the wage bill, ensuring strict adherence to the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, recovering revenue arrears, maintaining accurate cash books and settling pending bills.

Expressing confidence in the committee’s competence, Natembeya said the ultimate goal is to improve the county’s audit standing.

The administration aims to move the Auditor General’s opinion on Trans Nzoia’s financial statements from “qualified” to “unqualified”, signalling full compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards.

The inauguration caps a series of reforms intended to streamline service delivery and ensure county resources are managed responsibly for the direct benefit of Trans Nzoia residents.