Out of estimated 15,000 accountants in various public offices, close to 8,000 are not qualified or registered with any professional body as required. Photo/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 28 – The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) says it is working with the National Treasury to have all public service accountants registered with the institution in efforts to reduce corruption in government.
ICPAK chairman Benson Okundi says this will ensure only qualified and registered accountants work in government with continued focus on their professionalism.
Okundi laments that a high number of unqualified accountants are working in the public sector, which is one of the major reasons for continued corruption cases in government.
Okundi said the move will also help fight for those accountants who may face intimidation when they refuse to engage in any corrupt activities.
Out of estimated 15,000 accountants in various public offices, close to 8,000 are not qualified or registered with any professional body as required.
“In public sector going forward, we are working very closely with the Accountant General at Treasury, who assumed office in January this year, to regulate all accountants in the public sector. This is because the institute will only be able to discipline those registered as members of the institute,” Okundi said.
He said the organisations is in the meantime pushing for an Accountant Act which will be used to ensure all those under ICPAK abide by specific regulations that will see them remain professional in the work.
The ICPAK chairman was speaking while receiving a Sh60 million grant from the World Bank that will facilitate the development of a uniform financial reporting in government.
“The ultimate goal of the funds is to ensure good governance, accountability and transparency in the management of government resources,” he said.
The funds will among other things be used to train various accountants in the national government and help prevent regular major failures in the financial, accounting and auditing of public funds.
