Devolution Ministry is once again on the spotlight for failing to account for Sh60.7 billion for the year ending June 30, 2016.
An audit report by the Auditor-General Edward Ouko indicates the ministry is still reeling in accountability issues.
The ministry failed to account for Sh42 billion in a similar audit for the year 2015. The total amount failed to be accounted for is Sh102.7 billion.
Ouko in his report said the ministry has offered no measures towards recovery of unbudgeted Sh1,964,426,798 spent on transfer to other government units during the 2013/2014 financial year under Head-103005300 Planning and Development-Headquarter.
A similar audit report query by Ouko has been raised on Sh2,871,368,369 spent on transfers to other government utilities during the 2014/2015 financial year.
Ouko has also raised questions over Sh7, 111, 432 paid to a contractor for construction of flats at NYS Vocational Training Institute in Industrial Area at an estimated cost of Sh49, 105, 721 in the financial year 2013/2014.
A physical inspection of the project in February 2015 revealed the work was abandoned at foundation level yet sh7 million was paid to the contractor for issuance of certificate number one.
The project was scheduled to take 52 weeks to completion. It has stalled since.
Ouko’s report has also revealed massive inconsistencies in the ministry’s disbursement of funds to other government agencies.
For example, for the year ending June 30 2015, out of Sh1,106,836,773 meant for disbursement to the Anti-FGM Board, National Youth Council, NEPAD Kenya Secretariat, President’s Award Scheme, Uwezo Fund and Youth Enterprise Development Fund; only Sh839,974,582 is received. Sh266,862,190 is unaccounted for.
“The accounting officer has not so far provided justifications for these irregularities. Consequently, it has not been able to confirm the accuracy or validity of the payments totaling to Sh36,873,950,688 made to government entities including in the corresponding figures for 2014/15 in the financial statements for 2015/16,” said the Auditor-General according to the Star.
The report has cast doubt on unsupported cash transfers from the State Department of Planning to director general NYS amounting to Sh18.7 million.
In regard to transfers to NYS Director General, the balance as at June 30, 2016 has not been included in the financial statement.
Ouko also raised a variance between the final approved budget and receipts produced totaling to Sh5.6 billion.
Devolution CS Mwangi Kiunjuri could not be reached for comment on the report.