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MPs urge DCI and Anti Corruption chiefs to investigate Sh4.4b on facilities

Friday, October 16th, 2020 15:00 | By
An ariel view of the refurbished Nyayo Stadium. INSET: A pedistrian passes in the middle of a water logged Ruringu Stadium in Nyeri. Photo/PD/DAVID NDOLO

Members of the National Assembly want the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate tenders worth Sh 4.4 billion issued by Sports Kenya to companies for the construction and renovations of 10 stadiums across the country.

The MPs made the recommendation even as they raised concerns that the status of most stadiums in the country are in a poor state, a move that saw Kenya losing the opportunity to host the 2018 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN).

In a damning report tabled in the National Assembly, the law makers also called upon the Auditor General to undertake a value for money audit with a view to assessing the status of the projects visa vie the amount incurred on the projects in order to ascertain whether there is value for money.

According to the Mps any public officer who will have been found to have violated the Public Procurement and Disposal act 2015 and the Public Finance Management Act 2012 should be prosecuted in accordance with the relevant laws.

“The Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission and Directorate of Criminal Investigations should undertake thorough investigations on the award and execution of the contracts with a view to ascertain whether due diligence was undertaken in the progress of awarding and execution of the contracts by Sports Kenya and the accounting officer state department of sports who authorized payments,” reads the report in part.

The stadiums earmarked for upgrading and development included Kipchoge Keino (Uasin Gishu county), Kimariny Stadium (ElgeyoMarakwet County), Wote Stadium (Makueni County), Marsabit, Ruring’u (Nyeri County), Kirubia (Chuka-TharakaNithi) and Karatu (Kiambu County). 

Others include those that had been earmarked to host the 2018 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) including Nyayo Stadium, Kinoru Stadium, Kasarani Stadium and Kipchoge Keino stadium (Phase 2).

The MPs who sit in the Sports, Culture and Tourism Committee chaired by Mavoko legislator Patrick Makau claimed that most of the companies awarded the contracts for the construction of stadia lack the requisite capacities in terms of finances and equipment to enable them deliver the project in time.

They claimed that most of the contractors undertaking works are behind schedules which may lead to delays in the completion of the projects and further variations.

“The committee recommends the termination of the contracts of the private consultants who were found to lack the requisite skills to competently supervise the projects and instead engage the Public Works departments for the supervision of the remaining aspects of the projects,” adds the report.

According to the legislators despite the government paying more than half the money amounting to Sh 2.6billion of the Sh 4.4billion , the works delivered so far is estimated to be 49.5 percent a move that would occasion a variation in order for the projects to be completed.

While ordering Sports Kenya not to initiate any projects until the current ones are completed, the legislators also directed Sports Kenya not to process any additional payments for any company that was paid more than the scope of work delivered until they deliver work which is commensurate with the payments they were paid.

The Mps fingered Sports Kenya accusing the entity of ignoring personnel from the State Department of Public Works and instead engaged private consultants who did not demonstrate competency in their work.

Some of these stadias lack critical components such as drainage systems.

They claimed that there exists inconsistencies between the work delivered by the contractors and the payments made to them.

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