PIC Governance and Education warns Higher Learning Institutions over late audit submissions

PIC Governance and Education warns Higher Learning Institutions over late audit submissions

𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲,
𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

The Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education, chaired by Bumula MP Hon. Jack Wanami Wamboka, has expressed concerns over the continuous delays in submission of documents by vice chancellors and principals to the Office of the Auditor-General. 

The Lawmakers observing that such delays significantly impede its oversight functions, undermine their work by denying effective scrutiny of public funds, and threaten transparency and accountability in the education sector.

The committee, while examining the Auditor General’s reports for the financial years 2021/2022 to 2023/2024 today met with the University of Nairobi, University of Embu, Nyeri National Polytechnic, and Meru National Polytechnic.Co-operative University, and Nairobi National Polytechnic

The University of Nairobi was cautioned, sent away from the meeting for submitting its reports past the stipulated deadlines, with the chairperson Hon. Wamboka terming the action as “inexcusable incompetency, emphasizing the Committee’s intended intolerance of institutions that fail to observe the audit cycle timelines. 

"We are drawing a line today. Late submissions are not just a procedural lapse, they are an affront to accountability. From now on, penalties will be enforced to deter this recurring negligence," the chairman declared.

Sentiments echoed by members saying that Principals and VCs have normalized late submission of responses, in a blatant breach of law. Adding that Submission of financial records are crucial for proper Audit and resource allocation, it's the interest of the committee to safeguard public interest. 

The Vice Chairperson Hon. Anthony Kibagendi while closing the afternoon session, which he chaired, urged all institutions to treat audit compliance as a matter of priority and professionalism