Auditor-General Edward Ouko. He has raised questions over various
construction projects of the Judiciary spread across the country, which
have stalled despite payments having been made to contractors. PHOTO |
FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The Auditor-General has raised questions over various
construction projects of the Judiciary spread across the country, which
have stalled despite payments having been made to contractors.
In
his latest report tabled in Parliament for the year ended June 30,
2017, Mr Edward Ouko has expressed concern that the public may not get
value for money for the projects.
He
points out that in some instances, payment made by the Judiciary to
contractors exceeds the value of work done. In other circumstances,
contractors were overpaid.
As at June 2017, the Judiciary had on its roll 55 construction projects valued at Sh6, 661,092,518.90 across the country.
Twenty eight were funded by the World Bank and 27 by the government.
NAKURU LAW COURTS
In the construction of Nakuru Law Courts,
physical verification of the facilities indicate the work done by the
time of the audit is 65 per cent while the contractor has already been
paid Sh274, 402,054, representing 79 per cent of the total cost.
“It
was not clear why payments exceeded the value of work done. Also, no
explanation was provided on why the project stalled the contract period
having expired on August 18, 2017,” reads the report. “Further delay in
completion of the project is costly to the tax payers,” says Mr Ouko.
In
the construction of Eldama Ravine Law Courts, the reports points out
that the Judiciary overpaid the contractor by Sh4, 370,819, which should
have been withheld as tax as required under the government procedures.
OVERPAYMENT
“The
management has not explained the overpayment of Sh4, 370,819 or failure
to produce the Authority to Incur Expenditure documents for audit
review. In the circumstances, the propriety and value for money for the
payments totalling Sh72, 493,943 made to the contractor cannot be
confirmed,” reads the report.
For Hamisi Law Court, the project is 85 per cent complete, but the Judiciary has already paid 95 per cent of the total cost.
According
to the report, Siaya Law Courts project has also stalled and the
management has failed to provide justification for the delay.
Mr
Ouko has warned that the cost of construction of Narok Law Courts may
escalate after the management failed to approve sub-contracting works
for mechanical and electrical works.
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