- Ouko says his security was withdrawn immediately his term ended, leaving him at the mercy of evil individuals he might have stepped on their toes during his work.
- Says lack of a retirement package may compromise the work of office holders.
Image: FILE
Former Auditor General Edward Ouko says he fears for his life after his security detail was withdrawn immediately he left office last year.
Ouko on Wednesday gave MPs a painful narration of how the government appears to be perpetuating a targeted approach to punish him long after he vacated office.
In an emotional submission before the National Assembly’s Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee, Ouko said he is unhappy in his retirement. He said his eight-year tenure as the Auditor General was a thankless service to the nation.
Ouko said he fears for his life as his security was withdrawn. He said he is at the mercy of ‘evil’ individuals he might have stepped on their toes during his work.
“Whereas we get a lot of security during the tenure, the critical point is that the security is more needed after the eight years because that is when those who may wish to harm you and may have harboured anything against you would try and execute their evil ways,” Ouko said.
Described as daring, bold and fearless, Ouko assumed office as the Auditor General on August 27, 2011 and left after serving a full term in August 2019.
He had run-ins with the government and remained a constant target of the Jubilee administration which was unhappy with his stinging audits that exposed widespread corruption in various government departments, including the Eurobond.
In 2017, he survived an ouster by Parliament after High Court judge George Odunga quashed a petition by a Nairobi lawyer to investigate his conduct.
In the same year, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission pushed for abuse of office and breach of procurement laws charges against Ouko for allegedly awarding a Sh100 million software contract.
However, then Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko shot down the report citing lack of evidence incriminating him.
EACC later changed tack and charged his then deputy Stephen Kinuthia
Ouko also narrated how he left almost empty handed after service to the country.
He said he only received a one-off gratuity as appreciation despite helping the country to avert loss of billions of shillings by various government departments and agencies.
He said his medical cover was terminated immediately he left office.
“Right now as it is, if I fall sick I would have to fall on my own resources to pay for hospital bills not to mention protection and security which were all withdrawn. That makes me say I am a very unhappy person as it is, having served eight years but I leave it to you,” he told MPs.
He added, “I really feel that if it were to be known to me that would be the case and the end of my eight years I would walk out just with a simple gratuity, no pension, no protection, no medical cover I think you can imagine how vulnerable I would have been during my eight years.”
Ouko said that unlike other Kenyans who are free to engage in economic activities, the nature of his job could not allow him and coming out empty handed is something that should be relooked into to ensure future auditors are not compromised during their time in office.
“On a personal level, the demand of the office ensured that I could not be involved in other economic activities as other Kenyans may have. I really feel I devoted a lot of my time and I didn’t have an opportunity to develop my little acreage which I have in Siaya,” he said.
He added, “Therefore if a holder of the office of the Auditor General is not protected physically and financially post-service there is a high risk during tenure of office there could be vulnerability or compromise which could completely compromise our fight against corruption.”
Ouko said he has raised his plight with the office of the President through Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita for one year now but his letters have not been responded to.
“The Executive has been aware of the matter since I left office. I have been patient. I have tried to approach people in the civil and diplomatic way because I think it is not something to be just talked about in the streets or courts,” Ouko said.
“I had taken on myself to orally speak to the Speaker because I thought this arm of the government should be aware.”
The former Auditor General was before the team chaired by Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni to give his input on the petition by Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie seeking to establish a retirement package for the Auditor General.
Sitting at the very spot he sat when he faced the vetting panel in 2011, Ouko called on MPs to come up with legislation to protect holders of critical offices like the Auditor General, EACC and DCI after retirement.
“We need to look at how to protect all those who serve in all other critical offices, EACC, ODPP, DCI and CoB because they are under threat,” Ouko said.
He also proposed for a law change to make the Auditor General an ex-officio Member of Parliament, saying it is a common practice among commonwealth countries.
He however noted that he is proud with his tenure more so for establishing the critical office from scratch.
“I believe I fulfilled my oath of office during the eight years. I worked without fear or favour and with dedication,” he said.
“The office is also critical in the fight against corruption because more than 60 percent of investigations undertaken by EACC, DCI and even ODPP emanates from the reports given by this office.”