I delivered but the jury is out there, says outgoing auditor

By , K24 Digital
On Wed, 28 Aug, 2019 08:00 | 3 mins read
Auditor General Edward Ouko with the University of Nairobi Deputy Vice Chancellor Julius Ogeng’o (right) and his deputy principal Peter Kabonyo during a public lecture at the institution yesterday. Photo/PD/GERALD ITHANA

Outgoing Auditor General Edward Ouko yesterday described his eight years in office as fulfilling yet bumpy amid threats to his life and a malicious plot by powerful State bureaucrats who tried to torpedo his work.

Ouko was emphatic that he had delivered on his mandate and that the jury is out there, saying that at the moment, he is seeing hope as various arms of government seem united to fight graft.

“I believe I responded, but the final jury is you the people,” he said.

As he leaves the corner office that saw him duck threats from merchants of corruption for his single-minded focus on his mandate, Ouko says he is happy to take a deserved break.

“The eight years have been some of the most fulfilling in my life. But despite this, the journey has been bumpy because of the nature of the job I have to do,” he said.

Speaking to journalists yesterday, Ouko, whose term ended on Monday said it is now time for him to spend time with his family, which had been neglected for eight years because of his busy schedule.

“I want to spend my time re-organising myself now, the last eight years I have neglected my family, after this I will think of what to do,” he said.

During his tenure, Ouko unearthed damning reports on corruption and financial improprieties by public officers, which made him a target of death threats from undisclosed State officials who sought to stop graft probes in their dockets.

Lowest moments

He, however, resolved to focus on his mandate and take solace in the word of God because the nature of his work attracted enemies, some of who sent anonymous letters to him and his staff threatening dire consequences if he did not abandon his investigations.

Despite reporting the incidents to the Inspector General of Police and action taken, he said his family was most affected by the persistent threats on his life— and by extension theirs.

“There have not been many cases but the few that have been there we have reported them to the police who have taken action and in some they have said that they are just jokers,” he added.

“I can tell you that it is my family that feels this issue of security more than me. I feel it more when I go home and the issue comes up and sometimes I feel so naïve and scared but I am focused. Yes, I must admit that at some point, it did worry me but I got solace from Psalms 23 which says:  “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want.”

Ouko disclosed that his lowest moment in life was when a petition was filed to kick him out of office over the procurement of the Audit Vault System worth Sh100 million that was tabled in Parliament and in a record 14 days, various committees were marshalled to consider it.

“It was one of my lowest point ever in life when it dawned upon me that the very people, MPs, who were supposed to protect me, were the same ones who turned around to cannibalise me,” Ouko said.

“What worried me even more was the way the petition was handled as it was in unfair manner because in 14 days all committees were already looking at it, I figured out that something was very wrong.”

According to him, it was surprising that the MPs who were supposed to protect him were the ones who were quick to throw him under the bus.

The MPs in question mobilised all parliamentary committees in record time to ensure that he was kicked out of office.

Position vacant

Terming the petition as malicious, he said those keen to kick him out of office were the same people who had forwarded the same allegations to the Director of Public Prosecutions and when it was kicked out, they then took it to parliament.

His highest moments included ensuring that the office had an automated audit management system in place, addressing the welfare of his staff members that has since brought about professionalism and reduced allegations of bribery among  staff members.

Ouko, who kept smiling throughout the interview, said while he had an amazing stint in office, he was categorical that the there were times when the journey was bumpy especially when he was labelled as opposition leader Raila Odinga’s point man.

“This was not true,” he said.

Last evening, in a special gazette notice, President Uhuru Kenyatta declared the position of the Auditor General vacant.