The Annual Public Sector Accountants Conference 2019 | ICPAK | 16 October 2019 | Leisure Lodge Resort & Golf Club, Diani Beach Road, Diani Beach, Kenya

Over the last few years, Kenya’s public debt has been on the rise and formed a basis of discussion with organizations such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), among others raising concerns. In February 2019, a red flag was raised on Kenya’s ballooning public debt, warning that the country stands to spend more than Sh61 billion out of every Sh100 billion collected by the taxman for debt repayment this financial year.

The era of austerity followed the outbreak of the global financial crisis that has posed a myriad of challenges for public services, with demands for major cuts in government spending, the delivery of balanced budgets and strategies for deficit reduction. While the goal of austerity measures is to reduce government debt, their effectiveness remains a matter of sharp debate. Supporters argue that massive deficits can suffocate the broader economy, thereby limiting tax revenue. However, opponents believe government programs are the only way to make up for reduced personal consumption during a recession. Robust public sector spending, they suggest, reduces unemployment and therefore increases the number of income-tax payers.

Further, this year there was a protracted debate due to standoff between the senate and the national assembly on the division of revenue bill. Which has led to calls for amendments to the constitution, begging the question is it time to review the constitution?

Discussions in this conference will be geared towards ways in which public sector accounting and accountability systems are implicated in the development and implementation of debt, austerity and crisis management policies.

Among the areas to be covered are:
• Kenya’s Public Debt – Should we be Concerned?
• Austerity Measures and Crisis Management – The Dilemma of Public Sector Accountants
• Learning from the Past – Other Government’s Perspectives
• Transitioning to Accrual Accounting – Are we Ready Yet?
• Ethical Concerns – The Dos and Don’ts for Accountants
• Value for Money in Procurement – The Supportive Role of Accountants
• County Assembly Oversight Role – Court Ruling and Its Implications
• IFMIS – The Limitations
• Frauds and Corruption in the Public Sector – Relooking the role of Public Sector Accountants
• Division of Revenue Bill Standoff – Revisiting the Role of Commission on Revenue Allocation

Who Should Attend?
Public Sector Accountants, Accountants in parastatals, external auditors, public sector internal auditors, IPSAS Board personnel, Academia, Accounting consultants; Audit firms especially those auditing on behalf of the auditor General, Audit practitioners, Members of Audit Committees National & County levels, Members of PAC and PIC National & County level, CEO’s, Departmental sectors, Heads of Finance.