Kiambu County has been exposed over exaggerated fuel consumption rates of the county vehicles leading to wastage and loss of public money.
The county spent Sh147.73 million on fuel, but the auditor questioned ‘unrealistic’ data on the fuel consumption rates of some vehicles provided by the county officials.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu revealed that the county government could not account for the expenditure for instance one entry indicated the vehicle consumed one litre in 115km, another entry showed the same model consumed one litre for every four kilometres.
“In view of the evidence, the propriety, validity and value for money on the expenditure on fuel, oil, and lubricants totalling Sh147.73 million in the year under review could not be confirmed,” she said.
Some of the vehicles, the report stated, had faulty odometers thus making it impossible to establish actual consumption rates recorded by the vehicles.
“The data suggested that fuel was wasted, or may have been stolen, or errors were made in reporting on the amounts consumed,” the report added.
The financial audit for the Kiambu executive for 2019-20 that also exposed massive financial mess.
The report highlighted the county had spent Sh19.5 million on airtime as well as Sh1.69 million in buying 11 phones while another Sh1.1 million was paid out as ‘lunch’ to participants who could not be traced.
Kiambu Governor James Nyoro explained that the report captured is what transpired before he took over Kiambu leadership from his predecessor Ferdinand Waititu.
“I was sworn into office as Governor on the 31st of January 2020, six months after the Financial Year of 2019/2020 had already kicked in and much of the budgetary programmes already factored in the previous administration. Most of the issues raised in the Auditor General’s report including payments of airtime happened during the tenure of the previous administration,” said Nyoro in a statement.
The report also disclosed several unaccounted for expenditures, exaggerated cost of goods and service, irregular procurements, questionable huge pending bills amounting to Sh1.09 billion and Sh1.3 billion stalled projects.
The county officials failed to provide key documents, including electronic tax register receipts, sparking fears the funds could have been embezzled.
“Consequently, the occurrence and propriety of the expenditure totaling Sh19.52 million incurred on communication, supplies and services could not be confirmed,” the report reads in part.
The auditor also questioned the expenditure of Sh8.95 million that was reportedly wired to various staff members in form of imprest to facilitate various events – hospitality, supplies and services – in the county.
However, supporting documents, including event venues, activities, attendance lists and reports were not availed for audit.