20 MPs on spot over constituency funds

With less than three months to the General Election, at least 20 Members of Parliament have been accused of misusing National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).

Auditor General Nancy Gathungu in her report says the MPs failed to account for millions of shillings.

In the reports tabled by leader of Majority in the National Assembly Amos Kimunya last month, Gathungu raised queries about irregular disbursement of bursaries, unsupported cash withdrawals, stale cheques, unsupported projects and projects that were not implemented.

Gathungu also pointed out that some of the projects financed by NG-CDF were poorly implemented while others had inflated costs.

Among the constituencies that have queries are Tim Wanyonyi’s Westlands, Otiende Amollo’s Rarieda, Mohamed Ali’s Nyali, Naisula Lesuuda’s Samburu West, Nduati Ngugi’s Gatanga, Kwenya Thuku’s Kinangop, Benjamin Gathiru Embakasi Central and Mohammed Maalim’s Mandera East.

Others are Jayne Kihara’s Naivasha, Beatrice Kones Bomet East, Shadrack Mose’s Kitutu Masaba, Joseph Manje’s Kajiado North, Moses Lessonet’s Eldama Ravine, Mercy Gakuya’s Kasarani and Joshua Kimilu’s Kaiti.

Bursary funds

In Westlands constituency, Gathungu has raised concerns over the disbursement of bursaries worth Sh32.8 million to secondary and tertiary institutions which she said was not supported by documentary evidence including applications forms, approval process, acknowledgement by learning institutions and the list of beneficiaries.

“In the circumstances, the accuracy and validity of Sh17,344,600 and Sh15,484,124 bursary disbursement for the year ending 30th June 2020 could not be confirmed,” the report says.

The auditor also said there was irregular purchase of furniture worth Sh3.9 million for Nairobi School yet the Project Management Committee (PMC) was not consulted contrary to section 57 of NG-CDF ACT 2015.

In Naivasha, Gathungu raised queries over what she said was unsupported bursaries of Sh37.3 million out of which Sh18.6 million was not supported by schedules.

“The accuracy and validity of bursary payments included in other grants and transfers amounting to Sh61.6 million could not be confirmed,” the report reads.

In addition, Gathungu revealed there was unsupported compensation of employees amounting to Sh2.2 million, unsupported committee expenditures of Sh9.6 million, incomplete 57 projects amounting to Sh82 million as well as anomalies in bank reconciliation.

In Kinangop constituency, Gathungu pointed out anomalies in bursary disbursement to secondary schools amounting to Sh23.1 million out of which there were double payments of Sh259,200 to 30 students bearing the same registration numbers but different names while another Sh34,000 was paid to six students whose admission numbers were missing.

Gathungu also raised concern about stale cheques worth Sh1.9 million, irregular payment of Sh135,000 to non-committee members and irregular payment of committee allowances worth Sh1.3 million.

Other queries are unapproved hospitality suppliers and services expenditure amounting to Sh9 million, irregularities in projects and irregular purchase of a school bus amounting to Sh7.2 million for Heni Secondary School. The money was supposed to purchase a 52-seater school bus but a 46-seater was bought instead.

In Rarieda, Gathungu said there was irregular expenditure of bursary funds amounting to Sh41 million.

She noted that various anomalies were discovered including lack of minutes showing how the students were identified.

She added that despite bursary payments schedules amounting to Sh5 million being raised, the cheque drawn for the expenditure amounted to Sh5.9 million resulting in unexplained overpayment of Sh860,332.

In Nyali, Gathungu pointed out irregularities in re-allocation of bursaries totaling to Sh23.2 million.

“There was no evidence that the re-allocation was approved by the NG-CDF. As a result, the legality of the bursaries to secondary schools balance of Sh23.15 million could not be ascertained,” adds the report.

The report says there was doubtful delivery of goods to Kongowea Secondary School meant for fixing of wooden shelves for the library worth Sh624,580 and another payment of Sh800,000 for supply and delivery of office furniture and equipment to Kadzandani Kwa Bulo Post.

In Gatanga constituency, the MP has been named over Sh8.7 million bursaries for needy students in secondary, tertiary and special institutions which could not be ascertained.

In Kasarani, Gathungu questioned bursary disbursements amounting to Sh9.7 million that were not supported with acknowledgement letters from the recipients institutions.

In Kitutu Masaba, she raised queries over the purchase of school buses amounting to Sh22.4 million. The four buses were bought from dealer without ownership documents.

In Molo, the MP is on the spot over disbursement of bursary funds to a private tertiary institution for 216 students to enroll for short courses at a cost of Sh5 million.

She also raised queries about delayed implementation of nine projects worth Sh14.7 million.