Auditor General Edward Ouko questions Sh1.2b GSU housing project

NAIROBI: The Auditor General has questioned payment of Sh1.2 billion by the Interior ministry for purchase of land and houses for the General Service Unit in Ruaraka along Thika Road.

The payment follows a legal battle between Afrison Export and Import Ltd and the Attorney General for compulsory acquisition of 37.3 acres being part of the land number LR 7879/24 at Drive-In estate, Ruaraka.

The audit revealed that the defunct Internal Security ministry purchased 196 housing units constructed on 17.8 acres from the defunct Kenya Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC) in 1988 at a cost of Sh64,680,000.

However, the Auditor General Edward Ouko found that the ministry entered into the sale agreement with the defunct corporation yet it was not the registered owner of the units and the 37.4 acres in dispute.

Afrison Export Ltd and Huelands Ltd filed the suit civil case No 617 of 2012 claiming sale price and assessed rental loss arising from illegal occupation of the land by the office of the president.

The Court awarded Sh4,086,683,330 to Afrison in February 12, 2012, but negotiations between the Attorney General Githu Muigai and Afrison reduced the judgment debt to Sh2.4 billion in March 15, 2013. The ministry paid an advance of Sh1.2 billion to the Attorney General through payment voucher No 363 of 30 June 2014 leaving a balance of Sh1.2 billion.

The auditor questioned the decision by the Interior ministry to base valuation on three private valuers ignoring Government valuers employed under the Lands ministry.

"In view of these anomalies, it is clearly evident that those responsible for directing and approving the use of public funds contrary to law should be held accountable," the report notes.