Auditor General raises alarm over inflated gov’t expenditure in building 4 stadia

The Auditor General has flagged the use of taxpayers' money in the construction of stadia.

A report from Nancy Gathangu’s office shows that Wang'uru Stadium in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, for instance, cost the taxpayer Ksh.696 million but the price was increased by Ksh.76.5 million.

According to the Auditor General, the regularity and value for money to be realized from the expenditure of Ksh.696m incurred on the project could not be confirmed and management was in breach of the law.

The Auditor General has also flagged Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu County. The total cost of the project awarded to two different contractors was Ksh.1 billion. It was later realised that the price was increased by Ksh.148 million.

The price had gone up by 25 per cent of the contract price and was not supported by approval documents.

The plunder at Kirigiti Stadium was occasioned by the management being in breach of the law, the procurement method did not meet the provisions of the law, and Phase 2 of the project stalled due to non-payment of the contractor.

The report further details how taxpayers lost Ksh.57 million in the construction of the Jamhuri Posta grounds in Nairobi County at a cost of Ksh.1.1 billion.

Officials are facing accusations of direct procurement done contrary to the law, with the funds used exceeding the engineer's valuations.

The issue of incomplete work with no electricity installed as well as missing floodlights only made the business more questionable.

In Kisumu, the Auditor General says taxpayers did not get value for their money in the upgrading of the Jomo Kenyatta Showground which cost the treasury Ksh.350 million.

An inspection conducted by auditors found missing metal covers and massive vandalism. the stadium was not handed over to the government for use, with the county government of Kisumu taking possession.