"I am sure we will reach an agreement with the government because salary is not my priority” Robert Ouko, Auditor General. Photo/JENNIFER MUIRURI
By PETER NG’ETICH pngetich@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Wednesday, August 24 2011 at 22:30
Posted Wednesday, August 24 2011 at 22:30
The new Auditor General has said patriotism is the reason he was leaving his high paying job at Africa Development Bank to work in Kenya.
Mr Edward Ouko, 60, said on Wednesday that he was not looking for a salary but his wish was to contribute to nation-building. (Read:Two nominated for budget, auditor jobs)
He said he would focus on setting up structures that would help the country control its revenue through audits.
“I am sure we will reach an agreement with the government because salary is not my priority,” he said at Room Nine of Parliament Buildings while being vetted by the Parliamentary Committee on Finance. The committee is chaired by Nambale MP Chris Okemo.
Mr Ouko, who was based in Tunisia as the auditor-general of the bank that more than 77 countries mostly from Africa are affiliated to, said he would not fail to raise a red flag if public funds are stolen.
He said his first step would be to look at vulnerable areas and set up structures that would arrest theft of public funds.
“I will work closely with the Controller of Budget to ensure the structures that I put in place will give Kenyans value for their money,” Mr Ouko said.
The man who has worked at the bank for more than 25 years, said he is getting into a “rotten” system but would try and work closely with those who are for change.
He said he would help counties to establish systems that would prevent fraud.
Mr Ouko will be charged with auditing and reporting on accounts of the national and county governments, the National Assembly, the Senate and other public institutions.
Mr Ouko is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (CPA-K).
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