Nairobi — MPs Reject Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu’s NG‑CDF Audit Report, Plan to Summon Her for Clarifications

This week, Members of Parliament formally rejected findings in the Auditor-General’s 2023/2024 audit reportimplicating them in mismanagement of National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG‑CDF) bursary allocations. In a joint statement, lawmakers asserted that all responsibility lies with Fund Account Managers—not legislators themselves.

What’s at Stake

Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu flagged widespread irregularities across constituencies—including unverified bursary payments, incomplete projects, and missing documentation. Her report suggested MPs were complicit in misuse across the board.

However, legislators led by Decentralised Funds Accounts Committee Chair Gideon Mulyungi (Mwingi Central)categorically denied those allegations. They emphasized:

• MPs do not implement or manage infrastructure or bursary disbursements.

• That responsibility rests with Fund Account Managers appointed by the NG‑CDF Board.

• Parliamentarians only provide oversight and budget approval.

As Nominated MP Dorothy Muthoni put it:

“As MPs, we audit the use of these monies by the Fund Account Managers… Any misappropriation squarely falls on their shoulders, not MPs.”

Other MPs, including Martin Pepela Wanyonyi (Webuye East) and Innocent Obiri (Bobasi), argued the media had unfairly blamed parliamentarians, calling for the Auditor-General to provide clearer evidence and avoid tarnishing reputations.

 What Happens Next

The committee has formally resolved to summon Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu to explain the contested findings and defend her assertions before MPs. This session is intended to clarify recurring inconsistencies, improve future reporting, and redefine lines of accountability.

 Analysis & Political Implications

• Institutions in tension: The clash reflects deeper tension between the Auditor‑General’s watchdog mandate and MPs’ perception of their constitutional role.

• Ethics and due process: Gathungu recently advocated for sanctions against government accounting officers who ignore audit recommendations—a gap that lawmakers may emphasise extends beyond constituency matters.

• Public trust risks: Prolonged disputes over CDF misuse damage public confidence—especially if there’s no clarity on who manages day-to-day operations.

• Media scrutiny and accuracy: MPs warn of ongoing misrepresentation, alleging that some media outlets conflate oversight roles with financial control.

 Summary

• MP-led committee unequivocally rejects Gathungu’s report attributing NG‑CDF mismanagement to legislators.

• MPs insist that Fund Account Managers, not them, are accountable for bursary and project execution errors.

• The committee intends to summon the Auditor-General to clarify audit findings and improve credibility of future reports.

• The clash exposes institutional friction and raises questions over how Nairobi defines roles, accountability, and media narratives in public finance.