Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has raised alarms regarding the expenditure of millions of public funds across various sports projects undertaken by county governments.
In her report on County Government Executives for the financial year ending June 30, 2023, Gathungu highlighted significant challenges in proving value for money spent on many sports projects, along with violations of procurement laws and irregular payment of allowances to players and officials.
Several stadiums, including Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega, Masinde Muliro Stadium in Bungoma, Siaya Stadium, Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay, and Mombasa County Stadium, have been flagged for various irregularities.
For instance, the audit found discrepancies at Bukhungu Stadium, where over Sh1 billion was spent on construction, yet the project remained only 45 percent complete by October 2023, with the contractor absent from the site.
Similarly, Siaya Stadium saw an irregular increase in the contract price, resulting in questionable expenses totaling millions of shillings, while the completion of the project faced significant delays.
At Masinde Muliro Stadium in Bungoma, overpayment to the contractor raised concerns, with insufficient documentation provided to justify the expenditure. Additionally, subcontracting agreements lacked transparency, further complicating matters.
The report also highlighted issues at Raila Odinga Stadium, where irregularities cast doubt on the validity of nearly Sh50 million in expenditures. Similarly, the suspension of the Mombasa County Stadium project raised concerns about potential cost escalations and project termination risks.
Furthermore, Gathungu expressed reservations about the distribution of sports equipment worth millions in Trans Nzoia county, citing a lack of established guidelines and procedures for beneficiary identification and distribution management.
Additionally, payments totaling over Sh12 million to players, team managers, and coaches representing Kiambu County in sports events lacked proper documentation and verification.
These findings underscore the need for enhanced oversight and accountability in county sports projects to ensure efficient use of public funds and the successful completion of vital infrastructure projects.
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