Mudavadi: Government to audit state funded projects

All projects funded by the national government will be audited in a bid to tame increased cases of falsified payment claims filed by government officers.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said his ministry in collaboration with other ministries and state departments will undertake the exercise to ascertain value for tax payer's money.

The PSC who is in Lamu County for a two-day working tour said Members of Parliament ought to do actual project due diligence on the ground in their areas to avoid deceptive records filed by government officers.

"It will be of great help to the government if you MPs would carry out due diligence to ensure we don't have erroneous records of finished projects when in reality money has been squandered or some projects have stalled or recorded as complete yet they are not," said Mudavadi.

Mudavadi was received by ANC Party Leader and Lamu Governor Issa Timamy who was in the company of Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Gladys Boss Shollei, Local MPs, the KPA MD John Mwangemi, and local MCAs.

Among the LAPSSET projects he is set to inspect include, Manda Airport, Lamu Port and Special Economic Zones {SEZ}, and roads linking Lamu to Isiolo, Garissa, and Moyale. Lamu Port is the deepest port on the Eastern and Southern Africa Coast.

He said the government has already used Sh. 56 billion on the Lamu project and already ships are docking at the Lamu port while Kenyans are already exporting Livestock through the Livestock offtake program to countries like Oman via the Lamu port.

Mudavadi visited the Lamu Port's phase one which is set to have 17 berths with three births already complete and operational.

He said the port is estimated to be worth Sh310 billion when complete and will boast of at least 32 berths upon full completion, making it the largest deep-water port in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Mudavadi said the Kenyan government has structured the remaining 29 berths to be handed over to private-sector investors for financing, construction, and operation.

"We must now shift financing for completion of the remaining works to PPPs to awaken this sleeping giant", said Mudavadi.

He said the LAPSSET project is one of the key infrastructural projects being spearheaded by the government of Kenya and dedicated to interconnecting the East African countries of Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

"Moving forward a lot has to be done since we have to complete the road going to Garissa and Isiolo and the phases that lie ahead will need more concentration for us to achieve the ultimate goal. We want to ensure that any work undertaken here significantly bears fruit for us to attract more investors through the Public Private Partnerships to aid in the completion of this LAPSSET project," said Mudavadi.

The PSC said completion of the LAPSSET Corridor Project will strengthen the position of the East African region as a gateway translocation logistical hub.

Mudavadi also graced the annual Lamu Cultural Festival yesterday.

The PSC said there are plans to drill fresh water in Lamu with several investors already showing interest and laying groundwork ready to commence the work.