The audit of the Ministry of Defence for the Financial Year 2024/2025 officially commenced today with an entry meeting held at the Defence Headquarters in Nairobi. The session marked the formal launch of the statutory audit process led by a team from the Office of the Auditor-General.
The meeting was chaired by the Principal Secretary for Defence, Dr. Patrick Mariru, and attended by senior ministry officials including the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General John Omenda, the Assistant Chief of Defence Forces in charge of Personnel and Logistics, Major General David Keter, and various Heads of Departments and Chiefs of Branches. The Office of the Auditor-General was represented by a team led by Deputy Auditor-General, CPA Sylvester Kiini.
The entry meeting served to outline the audit’s plan, scope, and objectives, and to establish a mutual understanding of the process and expectations. The annual audit is conducted in accordance with Article 229(4) of the Constitution of Kenya, which mandates the Office of the Auditor General to audit and report on the accounts of public entities within six months after the close of each financial year.
In his remarks, Dr. Mariru underscored the importance of the audit in promoting transparency and accountability in the management of public resources. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s full commitment to supporting the audit process, noting that previous collaboration with the Auditor-General’s office had contributed to clean and fault-free audit reports in past years.
“The Ministry of Defence is funded by public resources, and we are committed to ensuring these are utilized prudently and in line with legal provisions,” Dr. Mariru stated. “Audits play a vital role in helping institutions realign their operations where necessary and uphold the highest standards of financial integrity.”
Echoing the PS’s sentiments, Vice Chief of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General John Omenda emphasized that the Ministry is deeply committed to the responsible use of public funds. “The Ministry of Defence operates on public resources and therefore endeavours to use the allocated funds prudently,” he said. “It is through audits that public entities are able to identify and correct any deviations from the lawful and efficient use of public resources.”
The Deputy Auditor General welcomed the cooperation and openness from the Ministry, expressing optimism that the audit exercise would be smooth and constructive.
As the audit proceeds, both teams pledged to uphold professionalism, transparency, and a spirit of collaboration-principles essential to maintaining public trust and strengthening accountability within the Ministry of Defence.
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