Friday, 30 May, 2025
PIC-SSAA applauds AFA for progress on legacy audit issues
Thursday 29th May, 2025. 5th Floor, Bunge Towers, Parliament Buildings.
The Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration, and Agriculture (PIC-SSAA) today held a session with the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) to address long-standing audit concerns, some dating back to the 2014/2015 financial year.
The meeting, convened at Parliament Buildings, was chaired by Hon. Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), who led committee members in a detailed review of the Auditor General’s reports. AFA’s Director General, Dr. Bruno Linyiru, appeared before the committee alongside his senior team to provide updates and answer queries raised in past audits.
Committee members commended AFA’s current leadership for demonstrating a commitment to transparency and resolution.
“We’re seeing real progress in accountability and clarity,” said Hon. Wangwe. “Having permanent leadership, instead of acting officials, is really helping to move things forward.”
AFA disclosed that a special task force had been established to scrutinize outdated financial records some nearly a decade old. The team’s mandate included correcting errors such as misposted transactions and addressing longstanding account imbalances.
Although some of the corrections were made years after the original discrepancies, Dr. Linyiru emphasized the authority’s resolve to rebuild credibility.
“We’re dealing with legacy issues, but our focus is on rebuilding trust and making the agriculture sector stronger,” he said.
Several audit issues revolved around the management of funds allocated to critical farming sectors, including sugar, tea, and horticulture. AFA clarified that many of these funds were spent under previous legal frameworks, often for research and infrastructure projects.
Committee members also raised concerns over a Ksh 5 million contract for security services, citing missing procurement documents. In response, AFA’s Head of Procurement, Mrs. Irene Nkamburi, acknowledged the documentation gaps but assured the committee of full cooperation.
“These are historical issues, but we’re committed to full transparency,” Mrs. Nkamburi stated.
A key topic of the meeting involved the treatment of large debts in AFA’s financial records. There was consensus between AFA and the auditors on the correct accounting procedures to be adopted moving forward.
Throughout the session, committee members expressed satisfaction with AFA’s responsiveness and proactive steps.
“This isn’t just about numbers,” Hon. Wangwe remarked in his closing statement. “It’s about making sure public money truly helps farmers and strengthens our agricultural economy. We’re happy with the progress so far and look forward to closing these chapters.