Several county assemblies are set to face scrutiny before the Senate within the next three months after a report flagged persistent audit failures and financial management concerns across devolved units.
The directive follows a critical report by the County Public Accounts Committee, which has outlined strict timelines for counties to explain how they handled public funds during the 2024/25 financial year.
Assemblies from Baringo, Wajir, Marsabit, Kakamega, Kericho, Murang’a, Makueni and Busia have been ordered to appear physically before the committee within 90 days to respond to audit queries and outline corrective actions.
A second group comprising Meru, Siaya, Nyamira, Nyeri and Tana River will also be required to appear within the same period and provide updates on steps taken to address concerns raised earlier. The committee noted that these counties had only submitted written responses instead of appearing in person during previous sessions.
At the same time, assemblies that received unqualified audit opinions, including Mombasa, Kwale, Taita Taveta, Embu, Machakos, Kitui, Kajiado and Trans Nzoia, have been directed to submit written reports detailing how they resolved audit issues.
The committee further instructed counties that had already appeared before it during audit hearings to return within 90 days with comprehensive reports on how they have implemented its recommendations.
“County Assemblies namely, Baringo, Wajir, Marsabit, Kakamega, Kericho, Murang’a, Makueni and Busia, appear before the Committee within ninety days,” the report directs.
Meanwhile, counties that received qualified audit opinions have been given a shorter deadline of 60 days to present themselves and respond to the issues raised. These include Kilifi, Lamu, Garissa, Mandera, Isiolo, Samburu, Laikipia, Tharaka Nithi, Nyandarua, Kirinyaga, Nakuru, Narok, Bomet, Kisii and Homa Bay.
Another set of assemblies listed for scrutiny are Migori, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia, Turkana, West Pokot, Nairobi, Nandi, Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet.
The Senate warned that any failure to comply with these timelines will lead to tighter oversight measures as it moves to strengthen accountability in county governments.
In addition, the committee chaired by Moses Kajwang directed the Office of the Auditor-General to maintain close monitoring of compliance by clearly flagging unresolved audit matters in future reports.
“The Auditor-General is directed to explicitly list any unresolved prior-year audit reports,” the Senator Moses Kajwang'-led committee said in its adopted report.
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