Governors slam Auditor General over planned bursary and ECDE audit
The Council of Governors (CoG) has strongly objected to a planned performance audit by the Office of the Auditor General targeting bursaries, scholarships, and Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) services in counties, citing legal and procedural concerns.
In a statement issued on Monday, July 21, 2025, the governors accused the auditor general of overstepping constitutional and statutory timelines, initiating the audit without consulting county governments, and lacking transparency in the selection of counties to be audited.
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“The Council of Governors has taken note of recent communication from the Office of the Auditor General on a planned performance audit covering bursaries, scholarships, and ECDE services. The Council reiterates its earlier position that this audit: – Falls outside the constitutional and statutory timelines, – Was initiated without consultation with County Governments, – Lacks transparency in the selection of Counties, and – Risks duplicating previous audits,” CoG noted.
Principles of devolution
The governors further expressed concern that such unilateral actions undermine the principles of devolution and the spirit of cooperative governance.
They called on the Office of the Auditor General to adhere strictly to the provisions of the Constitution and the Public Audit Act when planning and executing audits.
CoG Chairperson Governor Ahmed Abdullahi emphasised that counties remain fully committed to transparency and accountability.
However, he noted that audit processes must be conducted fairly and in accordance with the law.
“We welcome constructive, lawful audit processes that are conducted in the spirit of collaboration, fairness, and respect for devolved governance,” he said.
Rule of law
The Council urged the national audit office to respect the rule of law and work collaboratively with county administrations to ensure that performance audits add value rather than create tension or redundancy.
“CoG urges the Auditor General to conduct all audits within the confines of the Constitution and the Public Audit Act. Respect for the rule of law and the principles of devolution is essential to preserve the integrity of the audit process. The Council remains fully committed to transparency, accountability, and responsible governance,” CoG stated.
The statement comes amid growing scrutiny of county programs and spending, especially in areas such as bursary allocations and ECDE—key pillars of county service delivery.
The Office of the Auditor General is yet to respond publicly to the concerns raised.
