Sh10.6 million unaccounted for in Ruto and Kalonzo offices

Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka

NAIROBI, KENYA: The offices under Deputy President William Ruto and his predecessor Kalonzo Musyoka are required by the auditor general to explain Sh200 million queries in the 2012-2013 financial year.

The Auditor General recorded that since February 2013 — at the tail-end of Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka’s tenure — to June 2013, there’s money that was not shown in the books of the ministry, even though the money was disbursed from the National Treasury.

“Records maintained at the Office of the Vice President and Ministry of Home Affairs show that Sh288,826,608.00 was received in the Ministry’s Deposit Account Number 100012209 during the financial year 2012/2013,” the auditor general’s report reads in part.

“However, an examination of the records maintained by the ministry during the year under review shows that only Sh184,426,080 was receipted in the cash book on various dates between September 3, 2012 and February 19, 2013,” the auditor general said.

“No explanation has been given for failure to receipt Sh104,400,528.00 in accordance with Section 6.7.1 of Government Financial Regulations and Procedures,” the auditor added.

The key issues include Sh78.8 million that was irregularly paid for domestic and foreign travel.

Kalonzo served as Vice President from January 2008 to March 2013, while Ruto has been in office since April 2013.

Security considerations

The review raised travels and spending that happened between July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013.

The auditor general has queried the single-sourcing of a firm for domestic air travel, for which Sh3.6 million was paid. Three other firms were picked for foreign travel and paid Sh38.8 million.

Another firm was paid Sh36.4 million.

When the mandarins in the office were asked about the anomaly, they said they had made the payments and picked the suppliers without tendering because of security considerations.

“Although it has been explained verbally that the procurement process considered the security of the personnel involved, the explanation contravenes Section 133 of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2005 in which the ministry is not listed among institutions authorised to procure air tickets as security items,” the Auditor General said.

According to the law, very few State organs are allowed to single-source. They do this with the permission and supervision of the Treasury and the Auditor General, plus that of the Controller of Budget.

Those who have the privilege of classified audits include the Armed Forces, the Kenya Police Service, the National Intelligence Service, the Kenya Prisons Service, the Administration Police, and the Kenya Wildlife Service.

Up to Sh10.6 million cannot be accounted for.

“No reason has been provided for failure to account for or recover this outstanding amount,” the Auditor General noted in his report before the National Assembly.