Chief Executive Officer – AAAG
Fredrick Riaga – FCPA is an accomplished executive with over two decades of leadership in public finance, accounting standards, and governance across Africa. Currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the African Association of Accountants General (AAAG), he brings unparalleled expertise in institutional development, policy advocacy, and financial oversight.
Prior to his tenure at AAAG, Fredrick was the pioneering CEO of the Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (PSASB) in Kenya. During his leadership, he established a high-performing secretariat, setting the foundation for the implementation of accounting and internal auditing frameworks across Kenya’s public sector. His efforts fortified systems that continue to enhance transparency, risk management, and accountability. Fredrick also spent 10 years at the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK), East and Central Africa’s largest professional body. As Chief Manager – Public Policy and Research, he spearheaded advocacy initiatives in governance and financial oversight. His engagements with Parliamentary Committees fostered more effective oversight and capacity building within key legislative bodies, including the Public Accounts and Investment Committees.
A thought leader in public finance, Fredrick led ICPAK’s research agenda, delivering impactful studies such as the Baseline Survey on Devolution in Kenya (2014) and Effectiveness of Audit Committees in the Public Sector (2015). He played a vital role in national budget formulation, working closely with the National Treasury and the National Assembly to shape fiscal policies. His contributions extended beyond Kenya through international collaborations, negotiating Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with key global professional bodies such as EACIA, ZICA, SAICA, ICAEW, ACCA, and CPA Australia. He coordinated the EAC agenda on integration within the regional accountancy profession. Fredrick’s reputation as a resourceful expert on public finance and taxation is widely recognized. He has led numerous capacity-building programs and represented ICPAK at prestigious forums, including events hosted by the World Bank, UNCTAD, and other international institutions in Cape Town, Geneva, and Addis Ababa. His achievements earned him fellowship status from ICPAK in 2021. In governance, Fredrick has been instrumental in auditing oversight for public institutions, including serving on the Makueni County Executive Audit Committee. He has further enriched cooperative governance through leadership roles in Kenya’s largest SACCOs, including Mwalimu National and Stima SACCO, overseeing a combined asset portfolio exceeding USD 1 billion. Fredrick holds a Master of Business Administration (Finance) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) from the University of Nairobi. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya and a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors – Kenya Chapter.