Most constituencies cannot account for millions of shillings they received under National Government Constituency Development Fund, the Auditor General has reported.
Nancy Gathungu cited unexplained usage of taxpayers’ cash in many constituencies.
In most cases, the CDF management could not provide documentation to support the spending. In some cases projects were incomplete or did not provide value for money.
The reports were tabled in Parliament last week by National Assembly Majority leader Amos Kimunya.
The audit queries as MPs have trooped back to their constituencies to woo voters into electing them for another term.
An MP’s performance in utilisation of CDF money plays a key role in determining who gets re-elected, based on how the fund’s project are executed.
The CDF Act, however, does not give lawmakers a say in usage of the kitty.
In Njoro constituency in Nakuru county, the audit indicates irregular transfer of Sh4,482,759 to health institutions.
This is contrary to the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, which provides that health services is the mandate of the county government, GhanaWish.com reports.
The constituency also gave 26 students bursaries worth Sh121,400 during FY 2018-19. The students’ admission numbers were not provided.
In Seme constituency in Kisumu, the 2019-20 audit report indicates that bursary disbursements amounting to Sh346,054 could not be accounted for.
The constituency distributed Sh32,360,575 bursary cash to secondary and tertiary institutions.
Schedules provided to the audit team, however, indicated Sh32,706,629 disbursement, resulting in a Sh346,054 unexplained variance.
“Further, included in the bursaries disbursements is an amount of Sh28,727,550 which was not supported by minutes or distribution criteria,” Gathungu said.
In the reports, Nyakach constituency spent Sh3 million in the financial year 2018-19 to purchase a tractor which according to Gathungu was not operational.
The management team did not provide inspection report and the ownership document of the tractor.
“Consequently, the accuracy and validity of the tractor’s balance of Sh3 million as at 30 June, 2019 could not be confirmed, ” Gathungu said.
In Pokot South constituency, the auditor queried how the constituency spent Sh800,000 on the purchase of two acres of land of St Antony Chorok Mixed Secondary School.
The amount was part of the Sh63,785,231 transfer to other government units.
According to Gathungu, the management could not avail for physical verification supporting documents including valuation report, search certificate, and title deed.
“Under the circumstances, the accuracy, completeness and validity of of Sh63,785,231 transfers to other government units as reflected in the statement of receipts and payments for the year ended 30 June, 2019 could not be confirmed.”
