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County Government of Siaya is on the spot for irregular payments, breach of law and for varying contracts for projects without justifiable reasons, report shows.

Report by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu for the year ending June 30, 2023 reveals that Siaya County Executive entered in to a contract for the construction of the stadium at sum of Sh394.6 million starting January 1, 2019 to December 6, 2019. Contract sum was revised to Sh488.7 million resulting to a variation of Sh94 million.

However, there was no evidence of recommendations by an evaluation committee for the variations contrary to Section 139(1) and (2) of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act.

A new contract for roof works was entered into separately on September 14, 2022 between the county and an investments company at a contract sum of Sh35.5 million, which pushed up the construction cost to Sh524.2 million resulting to a variation of Sh129.5 million or 32 per cent.

Report further reveals total payments made to contractors at the time of audit stood at Sh425 million being Sh410 million to the main contractor and Sh14 million to the roofing contractor.

“Physical verification on the stadium in September, 2023 revealed that the project remained incomplete more than 44 months from inception. ln the circumstances, management was in breach of the law and value for money on expenditure of Sh425 million for the construction of Siaya County Stadium could not be confirmed,” the report.

Analysis revealed that pending bills worth Sh421 million were overdue for more than 60 days, contrary to Regulation 150(1) of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Regulations, 2020. Regulations require that subject to availability of funds and after proper certification of goods, works or service prompt payments are made within 60 days from date of receipt of invoice.

Furthermore, pending bills worth Sh319.9 million remained outstanding for more than 365 days with the oldest being outstanding for over eight years.

County spent some Sh296.7 million on specialised materials and services. However, supporting documents provided indicated Sh287.4 million resulting to a variance of Sh6 million which has not been reconciled or explained.