NAIROBI – The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has formally launched a five-member audit committee to improve transparency and tighten oversight in government spending.
Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the new Ministerial Audit Committee will help reinforce accountability in the management of public resources.
“We are running an open shop with utmost transparency,” Kagwe said Monday. “We welcome scrutiny as long as it is evidence-based. We have nothing to hide.”
The committee, appointed on November 13, 2024, and gazetted under Notice No. 2691, was formed under Section 73(5) of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012.
The team includes Chairperson William Okari Masita, along with Kasembeli Wafula Nasiuma, Douglas Owiti Nyangidi, Ann Wangechi Mwathi, and John Kariuki. Kariuki represents the National Treasury to ensure alignment with national fiscal oversight structures.
Kagwe urged the committee to play a proactive role in risk prevention. “Don’t act like morticians come in as problem solvers. If you see a potential issue, flag it early so we can act before it becomes a crisis,” he told the committee during the inauguration.
The committee is expected to support the Ministry’s Accounting Officers by overseeing governance frameworks, internal controls, and risk management systems. It will also monitor how audit recommendations are implemented across departments.
Kagwe emphasized that this initiative is part of broader efforts to instill discipline in the public sector and eliminate financial mismanagement.
This move comes amid growing public concern over misuse of funds in agriculture and other sectors, as the government faces pressure to show greater accountability in service delivery and food production systems.
The Ministry says the committee will work independently and will be required to file regular reports on its findings and progress.
The Agriculture Ministry manages key public programs including irrigation schemes, livestock support, and food security efforts, making it a high-impact portfolio in the government’s economic agenda.
