In just a span of a day after the exposure of mismanagement of Sh290 million by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) during the last financial year by office of the Auditor General, a similar gun has been redirected to his office.

Auditor General Edward Ouko and his former deputy Stephen Kinuthia are on the spot over the irregular award of a Sh100 million software contract reportedly in exchange for kickbacks running into millions of shillings.

Already International Policy Group, a Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) has petitioned the National Assembly, demanding a quick probe in the office of the Auditor-General Edward Ouko probed.

The conglomerate has already recommended an immediate removal of the officer from the office, citing a flawed process of acquiring a Sh100 million audit software purchase.

The International Policy Group is accusing Ouko and some of his staff of inflating the cost of the alleged software from Sh18 million to Sh100 million.

The lobby group has called on the National Assembly to recommend to President Uhuru Kenyatta to form a tribunal to investigate his conduct.

Recommended for charge

A petition seen by P Live Kenya, says that the lobby group is contemplating charging Ouko with “theft  and improper procurement of the software,” read part pf the petition.

“In their investigations, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) recommended that the Auditor-General be charged with abuse office and willful failure to comply with procurement laws,” the petition says in part.

“The report and recommendations by EACC further proposed that the persons named in the report including the Auditor General be charged with various economic offences as found in the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act and the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act for the misuse of taxpayers monies amounting to Sh100,000,000,” enumerated the petition.

DPP balmed

In defense, the lobby group has claimed difficulty in resolving the issue through the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, saying the office had “failed to give a satisfactory response to the matter”

Ouko’s term ends in 2019. He can only, however, be removed from office through a tribunal.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recommended the arrest and prosecution of Mr Ouko and Mr Kinuthia for their role in what it terms irregular procurement of the Audit Vault software for the Office of the Auditor General.