Sports Ministry on the spot over unsupported expenditures and flouting procurement laws

Sports PS Kirimi Kaberia [COURTESY]

A Parliamentary watchdog committee has summoned top officials of Sports Ministry over unaccounted part of Sh3.5 billion budgeted for hosting the IAAF Under-18 World Youth Championship last year.

Public Accounts Committee chairman Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja) yesterday confirmed inviting Sports Principal Secretary Kirimi Kaberia among other officials, who were involved in planning the event to provide details.

Auditor General Edward Ouko in his latest report pointed flagrant flouting of procurement laws and unsupported payments for the event in Nairobi on July 12 - 16 last year.

The money in question was part of Sh3.5 billion allocated to the ministry to prepare for the four-day International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) under 18 world youth championship.

Serious issues

 “We had scheduled to examine the accounts of Sports Ministry for 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 financial years. But because of the new development, we have brought it forward to Monday, August 27,” said Wandayi.

“We have invited Sports officials to appear and respond to the latest supposed scandal. The Auditor General is raising serious issues of misappropriation. The PS will have to come with all the officers involved in procurement,” said Wandayi.

The report has raised queries of procurement irregularities including single sourcing, pointing out how Sports Kenya was allocated Sh1.1 billion while Kenyatta University was paid out Sh689.6 million for offering accommodation for the participants.

Ouko says the ministry procured taxi services from Pewin Cabs Ltd at a cost of Sh23.8 million above the market rate.

The same company was also awarded a dry cleaning and laundry contract worth Sh30.8 million.

Physical verification

Ouko says his office could not ascertain the expenditure of Sh350 million as there was no competitive procurement.

“The Ministry of Sports Culture and the Arts through the Local Organising Committee of the IAAF World Under-18 Championships Nairobi 2017 spent Sh1, 712,918 to prepare for the Championships.

Included in the Sh1,712,918,380 expenditure was Sh349,633,321 which was incurred through direct procurement contrary to the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2015,” says Ouko.

Sports PS Kirimi Kaberia(left), Cabinet secretary Rashid Echesa (centre) and his predecessor Hassan Wario [COURTESY]

At least Sh13.9 million was spent to purchase a Toyota Prado from Toyota Kenya Ltd while Sh19.6 million was spent for three Nissan Urvan vehicles.  There were, however, no vehicle logbooks, inspection certificates and physical verification to ascertain that the vehicles were actually bought.

The ministry is also on the spot over Sh16.8 million payout to Bonafide Group for provision of clearing and forwarding services as there were no terms of reference.

Another Sh8.4 million was paid out to Tana Printers and General Agencies for the supply of flags and training in the absence of necessary quotations and tender evaluation reports.