LSK President Faith Odhiambo declines President Ruto’s appointment to the debt taskforce
LSK declines Ruto's appointment of Faith Odhiambo to the public debt audit taskforce citing office unconstitutionality
LSK declines Ruto’s appointment of Faith Odhiambo to the public debt audit taskforce citing office unconstitutionality
The Law Society of Kenya and its President Faith Odhiambo have declined to take up an appointment to the Public Debt taskforce formed by President William Ruto on Friday.
In a statement, LSK termed the task force unconstitutional and therefore illegal on grounds that it invalidated the role of the Auditor General whose mandate was to audit the country’s public debts.
According to the Society, it had thus resolved that neither its president nor any of its members would take up appointments or participate in the said task force.
“Taking cognizance of the provisions of Article 229 of the constitution and the interpretation of the said provisions by the court, it is our considered view that the establishment of the task force is unconstitutional,” LSK noted in a statement.
“The mandate to audit public debt rests with the office of the Auditor-General.”
LSK further called on the Head of State to refrain from seizing the role of the Auditor-General to undertake her constitutional mandate.
According to LSK, unnecessary to squander scarce public resources by appointing a Presidential task force to perform the duties of existing public offices.
“The Office on Public Debt Management, headed by a Director-General at the Treasury and funded by public money, should provide details of public debt to the Auditor-General for forensic audit,” LSK stated.
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The LSK further noted their decision is also drawn from the recent High Court decision, in a case, that underscored the Auditor-General’s role in the public audit.
In the case, in which Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya was sued for forming a task force to probe the county’s debt, the High Court ruled that the Governor could have requested the Auditor General to conduct a forensic audit.
The move by LSK comes a day after President Ruto announced the appointment of a Presidential Taskforce on Forensic Audit of Public Debt.
Among those named in the committee included Nancy Onyango who was appointed as the chairperson, Luis Franceschi as the vice chairperson, and LSK President Faith Odhiambo.
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