Professional Body Wants Whistle-blowers Protected By Law

ICPAK (Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya) ethical guidelines require that the accounting profession take precedence over any instructions from a client or other person. ICPAK law goes on to insulates an accountant from any form of harassment, civil suit or being subjected to disciplinary action for taking such actions or decisions or rejecting instructions from a client if such action were to be made.

Following the Mara Heist, an exclusive by Citizen TV on financial rot at Maasai Mara University professional accountant Spencer Sankale let the cat out of the bag, ICPAK has urged the government to put in place whistle-blowers’ legal protection mechanisms to insulate patriotic professionals who refuse to be caught up in fraud and professional malpractices.

ICPAK has developed a member protection policy that has been approved by the council and is in the process of operationalizing whistle-blowing mechanisms at the institute This includes providing for anonymous reporting and establishing a member protection fund.

The body now wants the government to pass the Whistleblowers Bill that will facilitate the establishment of a Whistleblowers Protection Agency which will ensure that the safety of whistle-blowers is maintained as the information they share with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations is critical in the fight against corruption at their workplace.

The Institution has called upon its members to always maintain high ethical standards and follow the rule of law while endeavoring to see that these professionals accountants are protected and not victimized for their patriotism and professional acts in the face of public resources plunder.