MPs demand investigations over missing funds in stalled Kisii technical colleges
Members of the National Assembly during a past sitting.
Members of the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education have called for investigations into missing funds at two technical colleges in Kisii County under the mentorship of Kisii National Polytechnic.
The committee questioned why projects at Kitutu Chache South and South Mugirango Technical Colleges remain unfinished years after their commissioning, despite millions of shillings being allocated.
At Kitutu Chache South, a project awarded at Sh57.05 million in April 2019, intended for completion by April 2020, remains incomplete. The contract was later increased to Sh67.1 million and extended by 139 weeks due to unplanned additions. A physical verification in December 2022 confirmed ongoing delays.
Issues such as contract variations, missing documents, delayed contractor payments, and conflicting reports about project statuses were highlighted.
Committee Chairman Dick Maungu (Luanda) criticised the prolonged delay, emphasising the need for accountability in public investment. He questioned project management and demanded explanations from the contractor and management team.
“It is good to note for the record that this committee is concerned that completion of this project has taken extraordinarily long. This is the seventh year, which I think may not be condoned,” Mr Maungu said.
He said the committee’s mandate was to ensure that public investments delivered value for money, particularly where taxpayers’ money had already been allocated.
“Making it worse, the government has put in extra amounts of money, yet that facility cannot be used by the community that comes from this place,” he said.
Concerns were also raised regarding missing documentation.
Kiminini MP Maurice Kakai Bissau stressed that a lack of basic project records indicates mismanagement and cautioned against potential cost escalations due to variations. He suggested a forensic audit to address financial discrepancies.
Other committee members sought clarity on conflicting explanations about contract approvals and retention payments, emphasizing the need for transparency.
Kilome MP Thaddeus Nzambia questioned the delay and the sufficiency of remaining funds to complete the projects.
Kisii National Polytechnic's chief principal, Geoffrey Andama, attributed some delays to the site’s challenging terrain but reported that about 90 percent of the project is completed.
He noted a payment dispute had prevented the contractor from remaining on-site but expressed optimism for a resolution within three months.
“When they came to the site, they found the nature of the ground in terms of construction. It provided an opportunity to provide for more space because it is a slope,” Mr Andama said.
Narok Woman Rep Ms Rebecca Tonkei insisted on concrete timelines for project completion when officials return to Nairobi, asserting that further delays would not be tolerated.
Bomachoge Chache MP Alpha Miruka called for a clear assessment of remaining works and suggested terminating the contract if it could not meet the project’s needs. He also raised concerns about the feasibility of completing the project under outdated pricing.
The committee’s overarching aim is to ensure that taxpayer money is effectively utilised and that projects are completed on time.
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