Former Auditor General Edward Ouko has been named the new chairperson of the Anti-Money Laundering Advisory Board. His appointment was made by Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi through a gazette notice dated September 19. Ouko will serve in the role for three years.
Ouko, who became the first Auditor General under the 2010 Constitution, held office from August 2011 until August 2019. The new Constitution gave the Auditor General wider powers, requiring audits of both national and county governments.
During his time in office, Ouko’s audits revealed major cases of misuse of public money, including at county level. One of his most notable audits raised questions about how Kenya handled proceeds from the Eurobond, a loan of Ksh200 billion.
These findings often brought him into conflict with the Executive. At one point, he even went to court against former President Uhuru Kenyatta after efforts were made to remove him from office. When he retired, Ouko accused the government of political harassment, adding that his pension and security were withdrawn months after his exit.
Since leaving the Auditor General’s office, Ouko has occasionally returned to public service. In 2023, then-Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung’u appointed him to head an 18-member committee investigating pending government bills worth Ksh481 billion. The committee was tasked with checking the legitimacy of pending claims, exposing fraudulent ones, and suggesting reforms to prevent future backlogs.
He was also tapped in 2022 by Siaya Governor James Orengo to join a seven-member team charged with reviewing the county’s revenue system and human resource management.
Before becoming Auditor General, Ouko worked for more than 24 years at the African Development Bank (AfDB), where he specialized in auditing, anti-corruption, and fraud investigations.
Other Government Appointments
In the same gazette notice, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced new members of the Tea Board of Kenya. Those appointed include Jackline Cherono, Joseph Karioki Ngige, and William Otemba Oyosi, each to serve for three years.
