Lakin says there has been no attempt to update the estimated costs of reform arguing the allocations are far below requests by the Sector Working Group in 2012/13.
“The Sector requested about Sh7.5 billion and received Sh5 billion... the Sector report did not include extensive discussions on the cost of land reforms,” Lakin says.
According to the report, the lands sector has historically fallen short on budgeting, spending and accounting for resources.
“The Ministry of Lands has never fully spent its budget since 2007/08...it has spent only 88 per cent,” the report says.
It further accuses Ardhi House for being cited repeatedly by the Auditor General over the last several years for failing to present accurate financial statements for auditing.
“There are also rampant unsupported expenditures at the level of district offices resulting into millions of shillings expenses that cannot be verified,” says the report.
For instance, reports by the Auditor General shows that on September 10, 2008, the Kirinyaga District Lands Office spent Sh3,597,590 that could not be accounted for.
The office was issued with an Authority to Incur Expenditure (AIE) No. 462792 for Sh4,494,560 to pay pending bills to Land Disputes and Boards in the district.
Out of the amount, Sh3,597,590 was paid to Lands Tribunal members for sitting, transport and lunch allowances between 2004 and 2008.
However, related documents in support of the payments, including dates of the sittings, minutes of meetings and attendance registers were not availed for audit review.
In the Nyandarua North District Land Office, the Auditor General reported that the District Land Officer made payments totalling Sh3,054,500. Other payments as allowances to the District Land Tribunal and Lands Control Board of Sh2,301,500 and Sh753,000 respectively.
Ironically, the hefty amounts were not signed by people purported to have received the money. Instead the money was collected by third parties.
