Nairobi county assembly is on the spot over stalled and poorly done projects worth Sh6.9 billion.
An auditor report for June 30, 2021 revealed Sh1.8 billion worth of projects were either suspended, terminated or abandoned.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu’s report showed Sh418.6 million Ward Development Fund and Sh4.7 roads, transport and public works projects were also delayed.
“No plausible explanations were provided by management for the unsatisfactory implementation of the projects,” the report reads.
The report shows some of the projects had variations of contracts and double issuance of tenders.
The report, which is before the House, is being used by the County Assembly Public Accounts Committee to investigate the projects and contract awards.
PAC chairperson Wilfred Odalo was concerned by the deliberate failure to honour contractual agreements by the said firms.
“Examination of various projects status reports revealed projects with a combined contract sum of Sh1.8 billion have stalled or delayed,” he said.
The committee will continue with more investigations this week.
MCAs and the executive have been at loggerheads over stalled projects that are based in the WDF, since devolution.
The ward reps have on several occasions accused the executive of taking them in circles since 2014 over the execution of ward-based projects, which have stalled due to delayed payments.
In October 2020, the MCAs transferred the management of Sh1.3 billion Ward Development Fund from the Office of the Governor to NMS under the directorate of transport and public works.
This was to ensure all the projects are completed on time after the ward representatives accused the county government of failing to fast-track the implementation of the projects meant for the 85 wards in Nairobi.
To have the project completed before the general election, the county assembly in May last year rooted for the formation of a general-purpose account to cater for the Ward Development Funds.
It came at a time when the legislators were raising concerns over the stalemate of ward projects, some that are yet to start.
No single WDF project has started in the current financial year with some in 2019-20 financial year having stalled.
The MCAs said the proposed general-purpose account will see roll out of projects in the wards expedited and the funds dedicated to only such projects.
In the current financial year ending on June 30, the account holds Sh1.5 billion allocated for all the 85 wards under WDF.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
