The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) has declared interest in joining the government in the ongoing process of vetting accountants working in public offices.
ICPAK’s announcement comes after the government ordered all heads of accounting and procurement to leave office to allow for corruption investigations to take place.
“All heads of procurement and accounting units in ministries, departments, agencies and state corporations have been instructed to step aside with immediate effect. Before they vacate, they have also been instructed to hand over to their immediate deputies,” a memo from the government spokesman Mwenda Njoka read in part.
The institute is also advocating for the government to make it compulsory for all accountants, procurement officers, and lawyers to be members of professional bodies to curb corruption.
ICPAK chairman Julius Mwatu said in a notice that corruption is a “chain linking individuals belonging to different professional bodies which can in turn push for law enforcement.”
“The government should empower professional bodies by introducing amendments to laws establishing such bodies. This will ensure that all those working in the public sector are members of professional bodies thereby ensuring that they work within the confines of a regulated environment,” he said.
Mr Mwatu also suggested vetting of public officers should also include junior officers to get rid of corruption in ministries and government agencies completely.
“The proposed vetting should include all individuals involved in the corruption chain. The value chain in procurement involves all users and should therefore also target the non procurement and non accounting staff if meaningful change is to be achieved,” he added.
