MPs train their guns on media after harsh audit report

Following a week of heavy criticism and explosive audit reports by independent institutions, lawmakers have now trained their guns on journalists.

A significant portion of Thursday’s afternoon sitting at the National Assembly was dedicated to castigating the media in a charge led by the leader of Majority Leader, Kimani Ichung’wah.  He claimed the media was spreading “disinformation” and “misinformation”.

“I wanted to give a statement regarding misinformation and disinformation campaign on the Public Audit (Amendment) Bill which was perpetuated by one of the media houses, alleging that the National Assembly has drafted a Bill that is taking away the powers of the Auditor General following the pronouncements that the Auditor General had done in her normal audit reports,” said Ichung’wah.

“The Bill was published in January, 2024, not January, 2025. If anyone thinks that the Bill was targeting the Auditor General because of her recent report, it is very far from the truth.” 

Leader of Minority Junet Mohammed criticised the headlines by a section of the media and even accused the office of the Auditor General of corruption.

“Mr Speaker, what is happening now in our country in the sphere of media is shocking. Nowadays you’ll wake up to headlines that will say stupid man, useless man… Where is the Media Council of Kenya that is supposed to regulate the media?”

At the centre of the outburst  is a Bill sponsored by Ichung’wah and which is currently being considered by the House. The Public Audit (Amendment) Bill has also been the topic of discussion online.

Currently, the Auditor General is the head and accounting officer of the national audit office.

The Bill, however, proposes the introduction of an audit advisory board, which will be responsible for providing advisory on budget plans and estimates “and any other matter that might be referred to the board by the Auditor General”.

The board will include the Auditor General, who will be the chair, Attorney General and a representative of the Institute of certified Public Accountants of Kenya.

It will have the chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee of the National Assembly and two representatives from Parliament.

And despite the Bill having been introduced in February last year, it recently made rounds online shortly after the release of a damning report by the Auditor General Nancy Gathangu on the Social Health Authority.