Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary James Opiyo Wandayi is facing potential scrutiny following an Auditor General’s report uncovering alleged misappropriation of funds during his tenure as the patron of Ugunja NG-CDF.
The report highlights irregularities in awarding a contract worth Ksh 1,938,637 for constructing an ablution block at Dr Ida Odinga Girls Secondary School. Despite the evaluation process revealing a bidder with a higher combined score of 50 over another at 49.2, the lower-scoring bidder was awarded the contract. This decision resulted in an additional cost of Kshs. 75,677 to the final contract.
Moreover, the Project Management Committee sanctioned additional work worth Kshs. 324,914 for the same contractor without proper justification, raising further questions about the fund’s management.
The report also highlights procurement malpractices in acquiring sports equipment for tournaments held in March 2022. Only two suppliers were invited to bid, violating Section 106(2)(b) of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015, which mandates at least three bidders to ensure competition. One supplier received a second contract at Kshs. 524,400, a price higher than a competing bid of Kshs. 521,600, raising concerns about preferential treatment and lack of due diligence.
Questionable Renovation Project
A renovation project for three classrooms at Sirandumb Primary School funded through emergency allocations further underscored the management lapses. The contract was awarded to a bidder scoring 39.87 over higher-scoring competitors with 40 and 18 marks, under unclear circumstances.
The contractor exceeded the 90-day deadline, taking over six months to deliver incomplete work by March 2023. The absence of a formal contract extension placed the management in violation of procurement laws.
Unverified Cash Purchases
The Auditor General’s report also flagged expenditures totalling Kshs. 1,682,970 for various goods and services, acquired in cash through standing imprest. These transactions exceeded the authorized cash purchase limit of Kshs. 50,000 as stipulated by the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015.
The legitimacy of these expenditures remains unverified due to the absence of competitive procurement processes, casting doubt on the transparency of financial management.
Calls for Accountability
The revelations have sparked calls for a thorough investigation into the NG-CDF’s management under Wandayi’s patronage. Critics argue that these findings underscore systemic gaps in compliance and oversight, demanding accountability from those responsible.
With these allegations now public, Energy CS Wandayi may face increased scrutiny as stakeholders push for reforms to uphold transparency and integrity in public financial management.
