Audit report shows Kakamega wasted Sh3 billion on stalled projects

The Auditor General has fingered Kakamega County Government for breaches of law, stalled projects and unsupported expenditure on goods and services.

In her latest report for the Financial Year ending June 30, 2023, the Auditor shows the county government, despite making payments of Sh3 billion on the projects, they were still incomplete and at various stages of completion.

“The projects, whose total cost amounted to Sh6.63 billion, were started on diverse dates between 2015 and 2022. However, as at June 30, 2023, Sh3 billion had been paid but the projects were still incomplete and were at various stages of completion. ln the circumstances, the value for money may not have been obtained from the amount of Sh3 billion incurred on the projects,” the report.

In addition, the county government awarded contract to a local construction company for the construction of Emalokha (Firasti) Water Supply at a contract sum of Sh45,685,764 for a contract period of six months.

However, a physical inspection in October 2023 revealed that the construction of the intake weir, pump house, staff house, office block and pumps was not complete.

According to the report, as at the date of inspection, the project was estimated to be 60 per cent complete and the contractor was not on site with no works ongoing.

Value for money

“It was not clear why the contractor had suspended works before completing the project. ln the circumstances, value for money may not have been obtained from the project,” the report.

Report further states that the county awarded a contract to a local company for the construction of the Butwehe intake works project in lkolomani sub-county at a contract sum of Sh21.4 million and the project was to be completed within six months.

However, a physical inspection in October 2023 revealed that the works had not been completed and the project was estimated to be 80 per cent complete with the contractor not on site and no works ongoing.

“It was not clear why the contractor had suspended the works before completing the project. ln the circumstances, the value for money may not have been obtained from the project.”