MCAs query Sh218 million World Bank project

Nandi County Assembly in session. [File, Standard]

Nandi County Assembly has launched a probe into a Sh218 million World Bank sponsored project in Kapsabet town.

The assembly has also raised questions on the effectiveness of the Kapsabet Municipality Board, three years after it was instituted to oversee projects within the municipality.

A committee chaired by Kipkirui Chepkwony summoned Committee Executive Member for finance Alfred Lagat over the use of Sh41 million in the 2018-19 financial year.

“It’s clear that Sh41 million was used but there is no clear breakdown on how the money was spent. The expenditure is not captured in the records,” said Chepkwony.

He further claimed that Sh177 million was last year transferred to a personal account with the knowledge of the county finance department.

The committee accused the board of failing to ensure the project was completed within set timelines.

While appearing before the committee, Lagat said the Sh41 million was spent on capacity building and hiring of more employees though he could not produce a breakdown report to confirm this.

“There is no single coin that has been lost nor misused under my docket as a public accounting officer. We have filed a report informing the World Bank that we have paid over 50 per cent of the cost in the ongoing projects,” he said.

Lagat told the committee that Kapsabet Municipality Board is currently under the departments of Finance, Administration and Lands.

“Once the municipality established its working framework, it will stand for itself to structure its budget for development projects,” Lagat said, adding that lack of coordination among the departments has hindered the municipality's operations.

Town manager David Sum said development projects were in progress and urged anyone with inquiries with regard to the same to file complaints through the right channels. 

“For instance, the construction of the footpaths along Namgoi to Kapsabet town road is within the standards captured in the contract agreement and there are no changes,” he responded to the committee's question on the project.