Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has uncovered significant irregularities in the disbursement of bursaries totalling millions of shillings in approximately 30 constituencies across Kenya. In her latest report on the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), Gathungu highlights various issues, including the absence of crucial documentation such as lists of beneficiaries, supporting documents, and evidence of vetting of bursary applications.
She also points out that some constituencies failed to provide students’ names, admission numbers, the amounts disbursed, and the details of the respective learning institutions that benefited from the funds.
This report follows closely on the heels of a previous one where Gathungu had already raised concerns about how constituencies were utilizing NG-CDF funds.
Among the constituencies implicated are Kikuyu, led by Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wa, Embakasi South under Julius Mawathe, Makadara led by George Aladwa, and Embakasi Central led by Mejja Donk Benjamin Gathiru. Other constituencies highlighted include Lang’ata, Konoin, Kiambu Town, Lari, Kabete, Tetu, Soy, Teso North, and Othaya.
In the Kikuyu constituency, for instance, a variance of Ksh 1.99 million was identified between the reported bursary disbursements and the supporting schedules. In Mawathe’s Embakasi South, Ksh 44.1 million was disbursed without forming a committee to authorize the allocations. Similarly, Embakasi Central showed disbursements of Ksh 50.9 million with missing documentation, including students’ registration numbers and receipts from beneficiary institutions.
The report also highlights discrepancies in Dagoretti North, where there was an unexplained variance of Ksh 158,781 in bursary disbursements, and in Lang’ata, where Ksh 52.9 million was disbursed without proper documentation. In Konoin, the Auditor General flagged unsupported transfers amounting to over Ksh 45 million, while in Kiambu, Ksh 32.3 million in bursaries were issued without forming a required bursary committee.
Furthermore, delays in projects such as the construction of classrooms in Lari constituency raised concerns about mismanagement. In Kabete, unsupported bursary disbursements amounting to Ksh 27.3 million were flagged, with missing acknowledgement letters from beneficiary institutions.
This report comes just a month after the High Court declared the NG-CDF Act of 2015 unconstitutional, ruling that all projects under the fund must cease operations by June 30, 2026. The scrutiny on the fund is mounting as more irregularities are unearthed.
