The Ministry of Interior is on the spot over huge pending bills and un-explained expenditures running into billions of shillings.

In a report tabled in the National Assembly, Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu raised concerns over various issues including pending bills amounting to Sh4.1 billion, un-reconciled cash worth 3.9 billion, medical cover for police officers, lack of a fixed assets register as well as well as unexplained expenditures spent on renovations of various police stations amounting to Sh171.8 million.

Gathungu raised concerns that failure to settle the Sh4.1 billion pending bills last year will distort the expenditures of the ministry and adversely affect the budgetary provisions for the subsequent year as they form the first expenditure to be charged.

“Had the bills been paid and the expenditures charged to the account in 2018/2019, the statement of receipts and payments for the year under review would have reflected a deficit of Sh4.1billion instead of the surplus Sh237 million shown,” reads the report in part.

On construction and renovations of three police stations including Pangani Police station, Kamukunji Police Lines and proposed Nyamarambe Police Residential House Phase 2 in Kisii County, Gathungu said she could not confirm whether Kenyans got value for money in the expenditures.

 Her conclusion comes after she questioned the issuance of tenders to the respective contractors saying the procurement laws were ignored.

On the proposed completion of Kamukunji Lines Police Station worth Sh151.2 million, Gathungu said her office could not confirm whether there was value for money as an audit inspection done by her office on January 6 reveled   various deficiencies on the project. 

She said the roof tops that had been constructed using galvanised iron sheets were leaking in all the three blocks under construction while the white PVCT&G ceilings boards fitted were loose and in some cases houses had fallen off.

The audit, she added, had revealed that although the bills of quantities had provided for 48 sets of five lever mortice locks for doors, the contractor instead used latches and did not fit 40 mm diameter rubber door steps.

“It was not possible to determine whether value for money was obtained in respect of the expenditure of Sh151.1 million incurred on the contract for completion of Kamukunji Lines Police Station,” adds the report.

On the proposed completion of Pangani Police Station worth Sh7.7 million, Gathungu said an audit inspection conducted on January 6, revealed that the contractor had abandoned the site and the work had not been completed.

Further, she said that footpaths, storm water drain gauge both open and slotted work, headwalls and culverts, drainage works and manhole constructions had not been done as per the bill of quantities.

“In addition, the contractor had left the manholes dangerously open and exposed.

With this it was not possible to ascertain whether value for money was obtained regarding the expenditure of Sh 7, 741, 580 incurred on the contract for the completion of Pangani Police stations and civil works,” adds the report.

On the proposed Nyamarambe Police post residential, houses in Kisii county, Gathungu said that from an audit inspection done on August 30 last year, it was observed that the contractor was required to use 16mm high yield square twisted reinforcement bars but instead used 12mm ditto high yield square reinforcement bars on second floor.