New cashflow audit system rolled out in war on graft

An enhanced cashflow tracking system has been rolled out in ministries in the hope of closing down opportunities for corruption.

Devolution and Planning secretary Ann Waiguru said that the reengineered Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) would automate requisition, tendering, contract awards and payment.

“The system provides clear audit trails. It will remove all rent seeking opportunities from government and we will expect resistance from people who use the system,” Ms Waiguru told a workshop of accounting officers from the 18 ministries and parastatals.

The workshop was organised by the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

She said that the system would expedite reconciliation of revenue collections, payments and bank entries, accusing accounting officers of not implementing the system.

Audit trails

The system would ease the work of watchdogs like the Auditor General, the Controller of Budget and PAC which could commence audits without involving the subjects.

“There will be no need for Auditor-General or Controller of Budget or any other body, including accounting officers themselves asking for documents. The system has clear audit trails,” she said.

The system has been blamed by accounting officers who appeared before the PAC for most of the audit queries.

PAC chairman Ababu Namwamba said that donor funded projects had the least level — 25 per cent — of accountability.

He accused accounting officers of not utilising the financing available. Ms Waiguru said IFMIS had reduced the number of signatures previously needed to authorise expenditure from 17 to seven with a typical transaction taking 15 minutes.

Ms Waiguru, who served as IFMIS director until her appointment five months ago, said that more than 3,000 State officers had been trained to use the new system.