Kenya’s mining industry facing auditing challenges

The government is facing challenges in auditing and controlling the mining sector due to lack of proper policies.

Speaking during the official opening of 3^rd INTOSAI working group on audit of attractive industries in a Mombasa hotel Wednesday, the Auditor General, Edward Ouko, said the Kenya’s mining industry needs to be well audited for the benefits of the government and its citizens.

He said that due to lack of proper policy in the audit on attractive industries it poses challenges for auditors to access the needed oil and gas information for audit.

Auditors from over 36 countries from across the world are converging in Mombasa to discuss the way forward in auditing oil, gas and minerals.

On the other hand, Ugandan Auditor General and chairman of INTOSAI working group on audit of attractive industries, John F.S. Muwanga, maintained that there is need to have proper legislation that will provide guidance and direction in the industry.

At the same time, Mining Principal Secretary, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed, said that some of the challenges witnessed in the past were on how to verify the quantity or the volume of oil exported, expenditure and money put into drilling or mining sector, adding that the matter is being tackled now.

He said currently his ministry is building capacity among staff members to ensure such challenges do not occur again under new policies.