NAIROBI, Kenya – At least 11 county assemblies have been flagged by the Auditor General for failing to complete multimillion-shilling chambers years after contractors were fully paid, raising fresh concerns over wastage of public funds.
In her audit for the 2023/2024 financial year, Auditor General Nancy Gathungu revealed that the stalled projects — valued at Sh3.8 billion — have overshot deadlines by up to seven years, with most contractors abandoning sites despite receiving the bulk of payments.
The counties cited include Kilifi, Marsabit, Isiolo, West Pokot, Samburu, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Bomet, Kisumu and Homa Bay.
“Delayed completion of these projects exposes assemblies to cost escalation and raises questions on value for money,” Gathungu warned.
Incomplete projects despite billions spent
In Kisumu, a contractor awarded Sh418 million in January 2022 for new assembly chambers deserted the site after pocketing Sh187 million, even though completion was due in January 2024.
In Bomet, a Sh473 million project meant to be delivered by April 2023 remains incomplete 16 months later, despite 94 per cent of the contract sum already paid.
Unfinished works worth Sh32.8 million include interior design, lifts, and debating chamber fittings.
Similarly, Uasin Gishu paid Sh169.9 million to contractors for a Sh491 million chambers project signed in 2021, yet only 35 per cent of the work had been delivered by June 2024 — with the site now abandoned.
In Trans Nzoia, an initial Sh477 million contract signed in 2021 was cancelled in 2022 after just 8 per cent of work was done.
A fresh contract worth Sh464 million was issued in 2023, but auditors say the project is still behind schedule despite 72 per cent of payments already made.
Oversight failures and ghost spending
Gathungu also accused assemblies of failing to provide progress reports, ignoring legal requirements for claiming damages from non-performing contractors, and tolerating procurement irregularities.
Beyond incomplete chambers, county assemblies recorded Sh5.1 billion in questionable expenditures, including unsupported balances, wasteful spending, and illegal transactions.
Seven assemblies — among them Nairobi, Nyandarua, Migori, Homa Bay and Vihiga — were flagged for holding outstanding imprests totalling Sh420.9 million in violation of financial regulations.
In total, 20 assemblies could not account for Sh488.7 million, including unverified compensation in Migori and unsupported legal fees in Nairobi.
Another Sh760 million across six assemblies was unaccounted for, ranging from unverifiable insurance payments in Tana River to unexplained prior year adjustments in Nairobi.
“The lack of supporting documentation raises serious concerns about the reliability and accuracy of county financial records,” the Auditor General concluded.
The findings add to a growing list of audit red flags over county governance, painting a picture of systemic mismanagement that continues to undermine devolution.
