CDF projects worth millions have stalled, report reveals
By Print, April 14, 2025Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has yet again revealed the sorry state of projects funded by the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), days after she unearthed massive irregularities in the issuing of bursaries.
A review of some of the projects that have gobbled up millions of shillings shows that some of the works have been abandoned, others are yet to be concluded while in other cases there were irregularities in the procurement processes.
Gathungu in various audit reports has also raised questions over irregular procurement of emergency commodities including desks, stationery and uniforms.
The report for the year ending June 2024 has in particular cited the construction of classrooms where the work done was of low quality and in other cases cited unsupported expenditures in various projects.
The constituencies under focus include Bomachoge Chache headed by Alfah Miruka, Nyaribari Masaba (Daniel Manduku), Rongai (Paul Kibet) Fafi (Farah Salah), Ruiru (Simon Kingara), Isiolo South (Dibu Mohammed), Nyaribari Chache (Zaheer Jhanda), Karachuonyo (Okuome Adipo) and Embakasi North (James Gakuya).
In Bomachoge Chache, the report raised questions over unsupported emergency expenditure amounting to Sh5.5 million, unsupported expenditure on environmental projects amounting to Sh1.2 million, unimplemented security projects amounting to Sh2.4 million.
With regards to unsupported expenditure on environment projects, the report says that supporting documents relating to Project Management Committee (PMC) project files, delivery notes, distribution lists, bank statements and documents indicating how the funds were utilized were not provided for audit.
Further, physical verification of three schools revealed that there was no evidence of growing trees.
Security projects
With regards to unimplemented security projects, the report shows that physical verification carried out on November 29, 2024 revealed that three with a total contract sum of Sh2,400,000 were not implemented.
The projects in question include construction to completion of four-roomed chief’s offices inclusive of a board room in Matongo, Kabere and Singe.
Reads the report: “In the circumstances, the value for money realised from the expenditure of Sh2,400,000 could not be confirmed.”
In Embakasi North, the constituency is on the spot over non-implementation of projects amounting to Sh55 million awarded to five schools for the construction of laboratories yet construction had not taken off.
The constituency was also flagged for irregularities in implementation of primary and secondary school projects amounting to Sh63.9 million, irregularities in implementation of projects, and transfers amounting to Sh104.7 million.
In Nyaribari Masaba, the report has raised questions over projects initiated in 25 secondary schools and 44 primary schools worth Sh100,000 that had not been started and no substantive evidence was given to occasion the delay.
In addition, the report says that audit verification done revealed that completed projects had not been handed back to the school and completion certificate had not been issued despite the project being paid in full.
Reads the report: “Further, there were no health and safety occupation certificates though some of the projects were already in use and monitoring and evaluation committee reports were not availed to support inspection and acceptance or recommendations of the completed projects. In addition, anomalies were observed from the sampled projects.”
In Rongai, the report has flagged unsupported expenditure amounting to Sh2.5 million meant for the construction of two (2) classrooms at Kamosop secondary school.
Purchase of desks
The report says that an audit review of records relating to this contract revealed that while the contract awarded to local contractors was signed on 21 March, 2024 for a contract period of 75 days from March 21, 2024 to June 15, 2024, on April 20, 2024, the Board of Management of the school requested to utilise a sum of Sh180,000 initially meant for ceiling works in the proposed classrooms and instead purchased 300 lockers at 600 each.
Reads the report: “However, supporting documents such receipt vouchers, store issue vouchers and inspection reports in respect to the lockers supplied and delivered to the school were not provided for audit review.”
Purchase of desks
In Fafi, the report has raised concerns over delays in implementation of projects including 28 in various sectors including emergency security and education sectors worth Sh 81.79 million.
A review of the project implementation status, the report shows that seven projects costing Sh9.2 million were completed, two worth Sh25 million were ongoing and 19 valued at Sh47.56 million had not started.
Reads the report: “Failure to implement and delayed completion of planned projects may have impacted negatively on service delivery to the residents of Fafi constituency.”
In Ruiru, the report raises questions over irregularities in implementation of projects.
The projects include purchase of desks at Githunguri High School, where Sh400,000 was disbursed but procurement documents provided for audit showed that the purchase of desks did not meet the criteria of being an emergency project, since there was no evidence reflecting the unforeseen and urgent need for the desks.