Auditor General Edward Ouko questions Sh135m CDF spending in Central region

Auditor General Edward Ouko. Legislators from Central region have come under scrutiny following queries raised in the Auditor General's report on expenditure of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). (PHOTO: COURTESY)

Legislators from Central region have come under scrutiny following queries raised in the Auditor General's report on expenditure of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Kieni and Nyeri Town constituencies were cited in the report for flawed procurement procedures and unapproved reallocations of their respective CDF kitties.

Auditor General Edward Ouko noted that the Kieni CDF disbursed Sh13 million for roads in the 2013-2014 financial year but failed to offer any audit verification or details on which roads were to be constructed or how much was to be spent.

He also flagged the construction of the CDF office's perimeter wall, which cost taxpayers Sh4.6 million.

Kieni also engaged the services of 15 contract employees at a cost of Sh2.2 million yet the CDF Act only allows for a maximum of five.

The report also flagged CDF Committee expenses and allowances of Sh 3.3 million, which were not supported by ledgers, attendance registers or schedules.

According to the report, the Othaya CDF spent Sh13 million to build a dining hall, classrooms, police houses, and police posts, but did not provide any project files to support these payments.

In Nyeri Town constituency fund had no supporting evidence for the expenditure of Sh70 million.

No ledgers

According to the report, the constituency  spent Sh32 million on transfers to other government units and Sh26 million in grants and transfers but did not offer any ledgers for auditing.

Mr Ouko further pointed out flawed procurement procedures in five projects funded by the Nyeri CDF to the tune of Sh17.5 million.

The projects included monitoring and evaluating services at a cost of Sh1 million where no contract agreement for the services was provided.

In addition, a project to build Administration Police houses at the Muruguru chief's office for Sh3.4million was awarded to the second lowest bidder without any explanation.

And although the Ndurutu Police Post project was allocated Sh5.5million, a spot check by The Standard confirmed it remains incomplete.

In Laikipia County, the audit queries the procurement of training services for boda boda operators at a cost of Sh2.4million by the Laikipia West CDF.

In Embu, Manyatta constituency spent Sh2million on training for boda boda riders. In Kiambu, out of Sh14 million set aside for bursaries in Lari constituency, Sh3.2 million was disbursed as grants for mock KCSE examinations and continuous assessment tests in various schools.

And in Kirinyaga, the auditor questioned a decision by Kirinyaga Central CDF to build Ngaru Dispensary at a cost of Sh4 million on private land.

In contrast, Mathira's CDF received a clean bill of health from the auditor for providing all necessary documentation and evidence.