Sammy Onyango (pictured), the Chairperson of the seven-member selection panel committed to an impartial process when he took his oath at a ceremony convened at Public Service Commission headquarters in Nairobi/FILE – ICPAK
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 1 – A panel appointed to interview candidates for the position of Auditor General was sworn in on Tuesday.
Sammy Onyango, the Chairperson of the seven-member selection panel committed to an impartial process when he took his oath at a ceremony convened at Public Service Commission headquarters in Nairobi.
“The people that we will put forward to the President must have not only the technical competency but also leadership skills that will help not only the executive to fight corruption but also people who can make recommendations to the country on how the vice can be eliminated,” Onyango said.
“Let me also remind my panelist that we have now taken the oath and we are all aware that the role of the Auditor General is very serious and therefore we will require competency, integrity, mental suitability, objectivity and impartiality when we are making our decisions.”
PSC Chairperson Stephen Kirogo urged the panel to put the interest of the public first.
He also asked the panel to take account of the vital role the office plays in the fight against corruption, a key agenda for President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“The government’s fight on corruption has been upscaled and hence the need to have a very effective auditor. The mandate and independence of the office needs to be upheld and therefore, the call on your part to be extremely diligent in your search for the next holder of that critical office,” Kirogo urged.
The position that fell vacant on August 27 after the former Auditor Edward Ouko’s tenure came to an end having served for eight years, has attracted 69 applicants.
Other members of the selection panel include Bernard Ndungu from the Ministry of Finance, Kennedy Ogeto from the Office of the Attorney General, Titus Ndambuki -Ministry of Public Service, Rose Mwaura (Institute of Public Accounts of Kenya), Loise Ruhiu (Association of Professional Societies of East Africa) and Masinde Brenda (Law Society of Kenya).
READ: Kenyatta sets ball rolling for recruitment of new Auditor General
The position that fell vacant on August 27 after the tenure of former Auditor Edward Ouko (pictured) came to an end having served for eight years, has attracted 69 applicants/FILE – CFM
The selection panel is required to hold its proceedings in public and thereafter shortlist three persons whose names shall be forwarded to Parliament including score by all the candidates interviewed.
The panel will also be required to submit a list of shortlisted candidates to President Kenyatta for nomination, within seven days of completing the listing exercise.
