Auditor says ruling coalition MCAs under pressure not to portray the government in bad light.
Senate PAIC chair Prof Nyong’o accuses some leaders of taking Parliament's oversight mandate for granted.
He says some county governments operating without proper internal audit systems to help identify and correct errors.
Millions of public funds are lost in counties because those in charge of oversight are under pressure from political parties not to expose financial malpractices.
In some counties, virtually all members of county assemblies (MCAs) are from the ruling coalition and they cannot portray the government in bad light.
"The policy of government is the policy of the county assembly. This affects proper oversight," Deputy Auditor-General David Gichana said Thursday during the second annual legislative assembly in Mombasa.
“Ideally, leaders of the oversight committees both at the national and county governments are drawn from the Opposition -- because they can question financial irregularities without fear or favour,” he said.
He however pointed out that with shifting political loyalty, many politicians cannot be trusted to safeguard the public funds.
"You may have the right members but, what is their political affiliation?" Mr Gichana asked.
He observed that some oversight committee members do not take time to understand the audit queries they are expected to interrogate before the oversight meetings are convened.
Oversight mandate
Prof Anyang' Nyong'o, who is the chairman of the Senate County Public Accounts and Investment Committee (PAIC), accused some leaders of taking Parliament's oversight mandate for granted.
Prof Nyong'o warned those who think they would go scot-free upon leaving office that they are misguided.
"A public officer is responsible for his actions whether in office or outside," Prof Nyong'o said, citing Article 226 of the constitution.
The clause reads: "If the holder of a public office, including a political office, directs or approves the use of public funds contrary to the law or instructions, the person is liable for any loss arising from that use and shall make good the loss, whether the person remains the holder of the office or not."
Prof Nyong'o challenged law enforcement agencies to work closely with Parliament to ensure those accused of financial impropriety face the law, saying this would help restore public confidence in them.
He said many financial irregularities were committed in procurement where the county bosses award tenders to their friends and relatives, in due disregard of the law.
Some county governments, he said, are operating without proper internal audit systems to help identify and correct errors.
Protecting the corrupt
But MCAs accused the Senate and the Office of the Auditor-General of sitting on audit reports and protecting the corrupt.
They said besides delays in receiving audit reports, some governors have openly shown disrespect to the Senate and are walking around scot-free.
However, Mr Gichana said the office of the Auditor-General has delivered a number of reports that are still gathering dust amongst oversight committees both at national and county level.
Steve Ambulwa from Kakamega County said MCAs have been faulted for siding with governors yet they have no funding to independently carry out oversight.
"You can't give one person Sh10 billion to spend and the person to oversight has nothing to put on the table and you expect him to safeguard public funds," he said.
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