Audit exposes Sh495 million in abandoned NG-CDF projects
In 18 constituencies, completed projects valued at Sh101.1 million had not been put to use, with the report describing this as wasteful expenditure and evidence of poor planning.
An audit has exposed that constituency development projects valued at Sh495.6 million, financed through the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), have been abandoned or left incomplete in 29 constituencies, denying communities the services and facilities the projects were intended to provide.
The revelations come at a time when the annual budgetary allocation to the fund recorded a steep 68.1 per cent rise to Sh74.8 billion from Sh44.5 billion in the previous financial year.
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The NG-CDF is a government programme that channels funds directly to constituencies to implement grassroots development projects, which include constructing classrooms, putting up security structures, and offering bursaries to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“Stalled projects are an indication that the public has been denied benefits that would have accrued from the completed projects and that value for money invested in the projects has not been realised,” Auditor General Nancy Gathungu said in her latest report covering the financial year ending June 2024.
The audit paints a broader picture of delays and poor execution, revealing that projects worth Sh6.9 billion in 157 constituencies had not been completed within the planned timelines. According to the report, such delays not only slow down service delivery but also push up project costs, further burdening taxpayers.
Even among those projects completed, the Auditor General found instances of facilities being left idle.
In 18 constituencies, completed projects valued at Sh101.1 million had not been put to use, with the report describing this as wasteful expenditure and evidence of poor planning.
A detailed review and on-site inspection by the Auditor General’s office found that development works worth Sh696.99 million in 65 constituencies faced serious quality concerns.
These included poor workmanship, structural weaknesses, and evidence of contract mismanagement and procurement breaches.
The report also cited cases where payments were made for work that had not been done or had been partially completed, raising questions about accountability.
In some constituencies, projects were not branded as required, creating the risk of duplication in reporting and difficulty in verifying the sources of funding.
The audit also found many instances where completed projects lacked proper handover and completion certificates, making it impossible to confirm whether they met required standards before being put into use.
Beyond the stalled and poorly executed projects, the report raised alarm over Sh26.7 billion in unutilised funds across all 290 constituencies as of June 30, 2024.
This, the Auditor General noted, has been a recurring issue over the years, with explanations often linked to the late disbursement of funds from the NG-CDF Board. However, the report suggests that better planning and management at the constituency level could help ensure the timely use of allocated resources.
The findings now place renewed focus on the effectiveness of the NG-CDF in delivering grassroots development and whether the existing oversight and accountability measures are adequate to prevent further wastage of public resources.
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