Jubilee Party can’t account for Sh1.5b donation – audit

Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party has been accused of failing to account for monies it received even as it emerged in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 financial years, a total of Sh1.5 billion was donated to the political outfit.

The office of the Auditor General raises concerns over the party’s failure to provide crucial documents and vouchers to back various expenditures.

 According to the report, of the Sh1.5 billion, Sh514.98 million and Sh758.4 million that was received in the 2020/21 and 2019/20 financial years, respectively, were gifts and services received in kind from other governments.

 On the other hand, Sh96.7 million and Sh103.9 million received in the 2020/21 and 2019/20 financial years, respectively, was from public contributions and donations.

“The statement of financial performance reflects public contributions and donations amounting to Sh96,732,000. However, the revenue was not supported with records indicating a breakdown and analysis of contributors and source of contributions. In the circumstance, the accuracy and completeness of the revenue from public contributions and donations amounting to Sh96,732 000 could not be confirmed,” reads the reported signed by the Auditor General Nancy Gathungu (above).

 The report tabled by Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah on Tuesday raises queries on expenditures amounting to Sh67.9 million relating to unsupported bank balances, unsupported cash in hand as well as, unsupported receivables from non-exchange transactions totalling to Sh127.7 million.

 The Sh127.7 million comprises outstanding contributions from members including governors, elected and nominated members of the National Assembly, senate and county assembly’s members registered under the Jubilee party.

 Gathungu, however, revealed a register of members and amount demanded and due from them were not provided for audit verification. “The receivables include a balance of Sh97,954,134 brought forward from previous year which has been outstanding for over one year and whose recoverability provision for doubtful debts.”

 On property, plant and equipment relating to Sh206.3 million with respect to partitioning of party headquarters that was completed in 2016, Gathungu regrets that apart from a letter dated June 23 2021 that was provided, there were no other documents including contract agreements, bills of quantities, completion certificates and invoices in support of expenditure.

 Gathungu also raises queries over the party’s expenditure on other programmes amounting to Sh4474.6 million.

 According to her, the party had unsupported campaign and election reported expenses amounting to Sh176.8 million.

 “However payment vouchers were not supported with relevant documents and payments were made through cash. In the circumstance, the accuracy and completeness of the revenue from public contributions and donations amounting to Sh176,819, 918 could not be confirmed,” adds the report.

 On cash spent on grassroots and field programs, she notes that the expenditure amounted to Sh115.4 million, but payment vouchers provided amounted to Sh185.6 million, resulting in an unexplained variance of Sh70.1 million while another expenditure for the same programme amounting to Sh115.4 million could not be confirmed.

 She also raises queries over unsupported expenditure totaling to Sh298.8 million that was not approved by relevant authority and lacked authorizing signatures of the accounting officer and Authority to Incur Expenditure holder.