A leaked document has put Auditor General Edward Ouko in the spotlight, amid claims that top positions in his office are held by members of his ethnic community.
The document, exclusively obtained by the Star, indicates at least 28 senior managers at the Kenya National Audit Office (Kenao) are Luo, heading critical institutions in national security and the Kenya Revenue Authority, among others.
However, the dossier could also be a pointer to the secret schemes that have rocked Ouko's office, with allegations of a plot to kick him out and replace him with one of his deputies – John Kagondu.
The document, leaked by staff from Ouko's office, accuses the Auditor General of placing members of his ethnic community in strategic positions to eliminate adverse audits from the Cord-controlled counties.
The document indicates that Walter Gumbo is the Director of the Kisumu hub, allegedly gate-keeping against negative audits from the Nyanza region.
George Otieno (acting Director) and Justus Oloo (Manager) are alleged to have been put in placed to take care of Western and Coast respectively, both considered to be Cord strongholds.
The document indicates that Romanus Ochieng is the acting Director in the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, while Esau Ndeda is the acting director in National Security.
Other senior managers alleged to be from Ouko's ethnic community are Deputy Auditor General (Corporate Services) Agnes Mita, director of Human Resource Philip Owidi, director of Internal Audit Joseph Abok and Kenya Revenue Authority manager Andrew Kintu.
The audit of national security institutions has always placed Ouko on the warpath with Jubilee.
Two years ago, Ouko unearthed a Sh2.9 billion financial impropriety in the Interior ministry that later led to the sacking of then Internal Security Permanent Secretary Mutea Iringo.
Yesterday, Kenao Senior Communications manager Wilfred Marube told the Star, “We can only give a detailed response once we see the document. However, everything we do in this office is aboveboard”.
Other sources claimed the document was misleading, since the office has over 1,200 staff.
Some Jubilee leaders have previously accused Ouko of working with the opposition to bring down the Jubilee administration.
There are also reports of a strained relationship between Ouko and National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich.
Last year, Rotich rubbished an audit report by Ouko that showed Sh66.7 billion could not be accounted for by 17 ministries.
He accused Ouko of acting unprofessionally, getting the numbers wrong and ignoring supporting documents.
“Going forward, it is imperative that offices mandated with critical oversight functions such as the Auditor-General do not compromise professional standards by making conclusions without thorough engagement with their clients to resolve any outstanding audit matters,” Rotich said.
The CS concluded: “The National Treasury would not like to see the annual audit exercise reduced to a ritual for tainting the integrity of public offices and a national executive committed to good governance.”