Audit flags Sh250m budgeted for roads in Baringo

The county government is in a spot for failing to account for Sh250 million that was budgeted for road construction in the 2017/18 financial year.

Auditor General Edward Ouko (pictured) says in his latest report that the Department for Transport and Infrastructure had planned to construct 102 new roads in the year under review. 

It had also planned to finish the construction of a further 83 roads, which had been budgeted for in the 2016/17 financial year.

However, only 24 roads were completed at a cost of Sh63.4 million. According to the audit, 87 roads were still stuck in the initial construction phases. Construction of eight roads was yet to start. 

No explanation

“No explanation has been provided for failure to complete the projects,” said Auditor General Edward Ouko.

Mr Ouko also noted that the county government had been unable to maintain the Kipngorom-Sirwa road constructed at a cost of Sh4 million.

The road was previously being maintained by the Kenya Rural Roads Authority before it was taken over by the county administration.

A physical verification of the project carried out on November 6, last year revealed that the road was in a poor condition.

Potholes had covered a large part of the 13-kilometre road.

“It appears the county executive is unable to restore the road to a condition that motorists can appreciate,” reads the audit.

In April last year, Baringo Governor Stanley Kiptis embarked on an infrastructural development programme that sought to open the county’s road network.

The county administration aimed to tarmac a total 600km in six sub-counties.