The immediate former Governor of Kakamega County Wycliffe Oparanya’s lack of prudent use of public funds has come back to haunt him, this is according to a report released by the Auditor General. The report reveals how funds allocated for the construction of Bukhungu Stadium Phase II seem to have gone missing.
According to the report, Mr Oparanya approved a payment of Kshs. 385,787,185 to a local contractor for the construction of Bukhungu Stadium Phase II. According to the available documents and information, the contract was awarded at a contract sum of Kshs.2, 927,721,199 and was to be completed by 30th December 2021.
However, a field inspection carried out in July 2022, revealed that the project had not been completed as some works were still pending, like the moat and RC wall, walkway at stadium frontage, ground floor column steel fixing and concrete casting, ground floor terraces concreting, shattering (beam and slab), slab and beam fixing and concreting beam and slab.
The value for money allegedly spent on the uncompleted project could not be confirmed. Further, the report reveals an irregularity in the procurement of fencing of the Marama/Shinamwenyuli/1456 Plot. The County Executive awarded the contract to a local contractor on 6th July 2021 for fencing of the Marama/Shinamwenyuli plot at a contract sum of Ksh. 1,992,228.
Documents available reveal that the contractor was paid Ksh. 1,507,014, however, no evidence was provided to show that the tender was advertised, opened and evaluated as required by law, contrary to Section 78 (11) of the Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Act, 2015, further, ownership documents are not available to confirm ownership of the land by the County Executive. Governor Oparanya has also been accused of having hired a bloated workforce and that he employed staff above the approved number.
Based on the above, the statement of receipts and payments of an amount of Ksh. 5,384,185,763 in respect of compensation of employees as disclosed which constitutes 42% of the total receipts of Ksh. 12,922,896,868 realized by the County Executive during the 2021/2022 financial year, this is contrary to Regulation 25(1)(b) of the Public Finance Management (County Governments) Regulations, 2015 which provides that a County Executive should not spend more than 35% of total revenues on personnel emoluments.
