The Office of the Auditor General has raised questions over the payments of up to Ksh6.3 million that the County Assembly of Uasin Gishu made as rent for 30 ward offices.
In the audit report for the financial year 2019/2020, Auditor General Nancy Gathungu notes that the County Assembly made payments of Ksh15,000 for each of the 30 ward offices, for the whole year.
However, there were no records of a lease agreement or contract between the County Assembly and the landlords that were provided.
“Further, the invoices in support of the payment of rent were not provided for audit review,” notes the latest audit report for the year ending June 30, 2020, seen by uasingishunews.co.ke.
The auditor general also noted that they were not possible to confirm how the rent charges were determined, as the ward offices in question were not located in the same area.
“In the circumstances, the validity and accuracy of the rent expenditure for ward offices of Kshs.6,340,000 for the year ended 30 June, 2020, could not be confirmed,” said the audit report in part.
Payment of Ksh30.6 million to 141 ward employees for the members of the County Assembly was also questioned.
According to the audit report, the county assembly failed to provide personal files and other employment documents for audit verification.
Uasin Gishu County Assembly foreign travel expenses
Consequently, the audit reports notes, the validity of the expenditure of Kshs30,636,000 incurred on salaries for ward employees, for the year ended 30 June 2020, could not be confirmed.
The Auditor General also questioned some of the expenditure by the County Assembly on foreign travel and subsistence allowances.
An amount in question on this matter was Ksh4 million paid to staff members who participated in the East Africa Local Authorities Sports and Cultural Association (EALASCA) games that were held in Kampala, Uganda.
An examination of the auditors revealed multiple anomalies in the payment, among them the failure by the assembly management to provide the list of participants from the County Assemblies Sports Association (CASA) for the Kenyan team showing the various games in which the Kenyan participants were involved.
“The members of staff did not get approval from the State Department of Devolution as required under circular Ref: OP/CAB.1/7A dated 26 January, 2015,” said Gathungu.
She also noted that members of staff did not attach bus hire invoices or tickets to account for an amount of Kshs10,000 that was disbursed for transportation costs.
They also did not produce certificates of participation to confirm their participation in the games.
“Consequently, the validity of the expenditure Kshs.4,050,749 incurred on the East Africa Local Authorities Sports and Cultural Association (EALASCA), games for the year ended 30 June, 2020, could not be confirmed,” said the Audit report that gave the Uasin Gishu County Assembly a Qualified Opinion.
