ICPAK seeks to join vetting of Govt accountants

The Institute of Certified Public Accountants (ICPAK) has called on the government to be enjoined in the vetting of government accountants.

The accountants lobby group is at the same time pushing for the state to make it mandatory to have all accountants, lawyers, procurement officers be part of professional bodies to stem the fight on corruption.

In a notice in the dailies, ICPAK Chairman Julius Mwatu said corruption was 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,” Mr Mwatu said.

On Monday, the government ordered all heads of procurement and accounting in public offices to vacate their offices as the war on corruption intensified.

At the same time, the top officials will also have to undergo a lifestyle audit.

“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,” reads a memo from government spokesman Mwenda Njoka.

Mr Mwatu added that the vetting of heads of accounts and procurement should also be extended to their junior officers to rid ministries and state agencies of officials on the take.

“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 said.