The National Assembly Public Investment Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has flagged the Sh 500 million extra cost of the new Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) headquarters located in Mbaraki, Mombasa.

The committee led by chair David Pkosing had summoned the managers from different departments to explain the increment, to which they struggled to provide answers.

Audit reports indicate that the initial cost of the project was projected at Sh1.7 billion but later extended to Sh2.4 billion, a Sh500 million more as fagged by Auditor General.

Led by committee chair David Pkosing (pictured), they questioned why the authority was unable to provide reports of audit queries raised by the auditor general while public resources were spent in the project.
“They raised fundamental issues regarding contract variations, the building was designed to cost Sh1.7billion but eventually exceeded over Sh2 billion, so the question is how did that change, we are looking at the value for money,” said Pkosing.

Speaking in Mombasa yesterday, he said the committee was not convinced by the explanation, saying something fishy must have happened.

Responding to questions, KMA director general Martin Munga defended himself that he was six weeks old in the institutions, while MPs demanded answers of payments done in the 2018/19 financial year.