Audit omissions should be dealt with and the culprits made to pay for not doing their work.
The Auditor-General’s revelation in his report for 2015/16 that the Ministry of Mining did not bother to verify the figures that mining companies self-reported for use in determining the taxes and royalties due to the government, is at the very least, disappointing.
As a result, it was not possible to confirm the accuracy and completeness of the payments that the mining firms made.
There is all likelihood, as the auditor's report shows, that millions of shillings may have been lost.
Naturally, many companies would be happy to pay less or no taxes at all if left to their own devices. It is almost certain that they would take advantage, if government agencies tasked with the role of enforcement are lax.
It is not in order that a ministry, whose description and entire purpose is to take-off the mining resources in the country cannot do its job.
Minerals are a national resource that belong to the people of Kenya and whose returns should benefit the country and not a few selfish firms or individuals.
The sheer incompetence by the ministry that has possibly denied the benefit to Kenyans is no different from grand theft.
The omission should be dealt with and the culprits made to pay for not doing their work. Failure to ascertain and verify the mineral export quantities, if it is not deliberate, is grossly negligent.
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