The African Association of Accountants General (AAAG) facilitated a hands-on training and capacity building for members of Kenya’s International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) Steering Committee. The training, which focused on “Strategic Readiness and Technical Foundations for Accrual IPSAS Adoption” was held in Mombasa, Kenya from June 24-27, 2025.
This intensive training was facilitated by experts from Ghana, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe – supported by a team of AAAG Secretariat (comprising the CEO and the Technical Director). It brought together 40 senior public finance officers from the National Treasury, Counties, Public Sector Accounting Standards Board and other government agencies.
The training was an opportunity for members of the IPSAS Steering Committee in Kenya to acquire practical skills to:
- Undertake action for successful accrual accounting implementation, effective financial reporting, and enhanced public financial management;
- Establish a policy and governance framework to support the accrual IPSAS transition;
- Design and lead capacity-building efforts across government entities to sustain reform momentum.
- Champion IPSAS reforms and advocate for necessary legislative and institutional changes in the country.
Kenya’s Principal Secretary for the National Treasury, Dr. Chris Kiptoo, CBS, said the government has officially launched the transition from cash-based to accrual basis accounting following a March 2024 Cabinet resolution to embrace the transition.
In a statement delivered on his behalf during the opening of the high-level training Dr. Kiptoo said:” We are not just updating systems, we are transforming how Kenya understands, allocates, and reports on public resources. This is about building public trust and making government finances more transparent and accountable. “
AAAG CEO Mr. Fredrick Riaga underscored the impact of the reform, noting that better visibility into government finances will not only improve budgeting and accountability but also will enhance service delivery, transparency and public trust.
Discussions emphasized, among other key elements, the importance of political will, clear roadmaps, strong coordination between government institutions and agencies as well as strong knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer learning mechanisms as critical to achieving the desired results through financial reforms.