Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has once again fingered the Ministry of Sports over irregular procurement of air tickets for MPs worth Sh1.2 million to enable them attend a parliamentary committee retreat under the World Under 20 Championship in Mombasa.

 In a report for the Financial Year 2020/21, Gathungu said although authority was sought from the Cabinet Secretary to approve the expenditure for Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage officers’ to attend the retreat, only four received tickets, while 29 tickets were for MPs whose names were not included in the approved request.

 According to the official, it was not explained why the management of World Under 20 procured return air tickets for lawmakers yet Parliamentary Service Commission funds their expenses.

 Further, she noted that there were no boarding passes, attendance register and back to office report to confirm that the retreat took place.

 The World Under 20 Championships was conducted from August 1, 2022 up to August 6 in Colombia.

“The statement of financial performance reflects Sh8, 986,829,006 in respect to transfers to Government implementing agencies and sports organisations. The figure includes an amount of Sh1, 176,695 paid to a travelling agent for procurement of return air tickets to Mombasa for a parliamentary committee retreat under the World Under 20 Championship. Consequently, the propriety of Sh1,176,695 expenditure on air tickets could not be confirmed,” she noted.  In the report tabled in Parliament last year, the Auditor also raised concerns over other expenditures that were incurred by the ministry.

 She raised concerns over un-surrendered imprests for the World Rally Championship Safari Rally amounting to Sh17.1 million.

 She explained that examination of the imprest register maintained by World Rally Championship revealed that imprests issued to nine officers totalling to Sh17.1 million were not surrendered as at 30 June, 2021.