Orengo appears before county committee over audit queries

Siaya Governor James Orengo on Thursday appeared before the County Public Accounts Committee to respond to questions arising from the Auditor General’s report for the 2024/2025 financial year and the county’s Revenue Fund statements.

In a statement shared on his X account on Thursday, July 30, 2026, Orengo said his appearance before the committee was part of his constitutional obligation to account for the management of public resources.

“To uphold my constitutional mandate, I appeared before the County Public Accounts Committee today to answer questions on the Auditor General’s FY 2024/2025 report and our County Revenue Fund statements,” Orengo said.

Accountability in focus

The governor’s appearance comes amid increased scrutiny of county governments by oversight institutions seeking to strengthen accountability and transparency in the management of public finances.

County Public Accounts Committees play a key role in examining audit reports and ensuring that governors and accounting officers explain any issues raised by the Auditor General.

Orengo’s appearance also follows heightened oversight activities across county governments, with Parliament and county assemblies demanding greater compliance with public finance management laws.

Counties under scrutiny

The latest session comes on the same day the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget gave Migori County seven days to align its procurement compliance records with those of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) after concerns emerged over delayed submission of supporting documents.

The committee, chaired by Mandera Senator Ali Roba, faulted Migori County for presenting key procurement records on the morning of its appearance, denying senators and the regulator adequate time to review them.

“Once a letter is written to you, please submit the documents within the timeline specified in the letter, so that before you appear, we can share with the respective authorities in time and ensure senators interact with the documents,” Roba said during the committee session.

Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko told senators that the county had addressed previous reporting gaps by training finance staff on the use of the Public Procurement Information Portal.

“In the 2022/2023 Financial Year, there was a reporting gap due to lack of technical expertise. However, the Department of Finance and Economic Planning, through an IT expert from the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, organised and conducted in-house training in June 2023,” Ayacko said.

Oversight role

The growing oversight of county governments reflects continued efforts by legislative bodies to ensure prudent use of public funds and adherence to the Public Finance Management Act.

Orengo’s appearance before the County Public Accounts Committee is expected to inform the committee’s review of the Auditor General’s findings before recommendations are made on the county’s financial management for the 2024/2025 financial year.