Sh700m lost in IEBC election tenders: Report

IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati addresses the press after Post Election Evaluation workshop in Kisumu County on June 26, 2018. [Collins Oduor]

More than Sh700 million could have been lost in provision of catering services to the electoral agency's staff in 2017, an audit report has shown.

Another Sh27 million could have been lost in accommodation of seven Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners at Bomas of Kenya.

Auditor General Edward Ouko said IEBC, chaired by Wafula Chebukati, awarded a firm a tender to offer catering services disregarding due process.

The 2017/18 report, tabled in Parliament yesterday, read: “The expenditure of Sh2,183,189,000 on hospitality, supplies and services... include catering services amounting to Sh691,526,310.

The contracts were awarded to service providers based on predetermined rates...”

It says IEBC booked Bomas of Kenya as the national tallying centre for Sh70,495,162. "This resulted to an overpayment of Sh27,482,162".

IEBC was unable to explain expenditure of Sh36 million in hiring a firm to organise its events.

It is also in a spot for paying five media houses and radio stations for airing documentaries during the fresh presidential election in 2017.

Ouko says documentary evidence showed the negotiated cost would have been Sh11,840,000. "...validity of the expenditure of Sh23,040,000... could not be confirmed,” he adds.