The National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has questioned the decision made by the Auditor General Nancy Gathungu to hire private firms that will audit Kenya Power.

Muturi says the private firm has always been presenting a clean bill at a time when the cost of electricity was skyrocketing.

He adds that private firms have been returning clean accounts for state agencies despite the outstanding audit questions and procurement irregularities.

 “They ought to tell us why Kenya Power is audited by private firms. When I was Chair of the Public Investment Committee (PIC) I recommended that Kenya Power be audited by the Auditor General. This is because when the Auditor General issues a report, there is always a ripple effect,” said Muturi.

He has urged the parliamentarians in their oversight role to question why firms which the government has an interest in it always runs to private entities when it comes to auditing.

 “Kenya Power has become a thorn in this country due to the high cost of electricity which chases investors away. I think it is time when we must ask ourselves are our professionals doing the right thing.” Said Muturi.

June this year, Parliament directed the Auditor-General to order all parastatals under the Ministry of Energy including Kenya Power and KenGen to stop hiring private firms to do the audit.

The law allows the Auditor-General to outsource audit services after entering into contracts with private audit firms.

Last week, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi said an inter-ministerial committee had been formed to conduct a fresh audit on Kenya Power’s supply demand needs and pricing policies.

Matiang’i said the Government will expand the recommendations of the taskforce to undertake a wider review and overhaul of the entire energy sector.

President Kenyatta issued a directive for a 33 percent reduction of electricity tariffs by end of this year.