Auditor-General’s Office awarded AFROSAI-E prize for best performance audit report of 2025 / HANDOUT
The Office of the Auditor-General of Kenya has been awarded the Prize for the Best Performance Audit Report of 2025 in the AFROSAI-E region, in recognition of an audit that demonstrated strong impact in strengthening accountability and improving public service delivery across the public sector.
The award was presented during AFROSAI-E’s Strategic Review meeting held alongside the annual Governing Board of Auditors General in Monrovia, Liberia, where audit institutions from across English-speaking Africa gathered to assess performance and share best practices.
The winning submission was the performance audit of the Kenya Urban Support Programme Phase 1, a major government initiative designed to enhance urban governance, strengthen institutional systems, and support infrastructure development in rapidly growing towns and cities across Kenya.
The jury praised the Kenyan report for its clarity, depth of evidence, and balanced analysis, noting that it effectively combined technical audit rigour with accessible presentation of findings that could be understood and used by policymakers, legislators and the public.
According to the evaluation summary, the audit stood out among eight shortlisted reports drawn from Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Tanzania and Uganda, all of which addressed major governance and service delivery challenges affecting citizens across the continent.
A key strength of the Kenyan audit was its comprehensive fieldwork and structured assessment of programme implementation, which revealed both progress achieved and persistent systemic weaknesses.
Among the challenges identified were unclear institutional roles and responsibilities across implementing agencies, delays in project execution, weaknesses in infrastructure maintenance systems, and limited citizen participation in decision-making processes affecting urban development projects.
Officials noted that these gaps affected the efficiency and sustainability of outcomes under the programme, particularly in fast-growing urban areas where demand for services continues to increase.
The international jury commended the report’s ability to present complex public sector issues clearly and practically, noting that it provided actionable insights that could strengthen future implementation of similar programmes.
Swedish Auditor-General Christina Gellerbrant Hagberg, who presented the award, said the audit demonstrated the practical value of performance auditing when applied to large and complex public investments, particularly in infrastructure and development programmes.
“By combining solid evidence with a balanced analysis, the report provides insights that are essential for strengthening accountability and improving how public resources deliver long-term benefits for citizens,” Hagberg said.
She emphasised that the report’s evidence-based approach and balanced conclusions provide useful guidance for improving accountability and ensuring better use of public resources.
Auditor-General’s Office wins AFROSAI-E prize for best performance audit report of 2025 / HANDOUT
AFROSAI-E Chief Executive Officer Meisie Nkau noted that the 2025 submissions reflected a growing maturity in performance auditing across the region.
She revealed that a total of 171 performance audit reports were produced across member countries during the year, covering critical sectors such as infrastructure, governance, service delivery and public finance management.
“The winning audit is a strong example of how SAIs can provide independent insight into complex, high-impact areas such as infrastructure development and donor-funded projects, ultimately contributing to greater accountability and improved outcomes for citizens. Congratulations to SAI Kenya and the winning performance audit team for their dedication to producing timely, high-quality performance audits,” the CEO said.
The award also highlights the broader role of audit institutions in improving transparency and ensuring that public investments translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
As part of the recognition, the winning audit team from Kenya will undertake a knowledge exchange visit to the Swedish National Audit Office, where they will engage with Swedish counterparts and previous winners from Uganda.
The exchange is intended to deepen professional collaboration and strengthen audit quality across the region.
The Office of the Auditor-General of Kenya said the award reinforces its commitment to strengthening public accountability, improving oversight of government programmes, and enhancing transparency in the use of public resources.
