The Ministry of Devolution is on the spot over a Sh3.4 billion expenditure it cannot account for.
Auditor General Edward Ouko raised concerns over how the State department for Special Programmes under the Ministry spent the money meant for emergency food relief and refugees’ assistance.
Of the Sh3.4 billion, Sh3.3 billion was allocated to emergency relief and refugees, Sh92.1 million to projects, Sh19.5 million to purchase of relief foodstuff and Shi .7 million sent to county commissioners.
“The accuracy, completeness, validity and accountability of other grants and transfers balance of Sh3, 401, 423, 681 billion could not be confirmed as at June 30 2018,” the report read in part.
No documentation
Ouko said they were not provided with documentation for distribution of emergency food to the intended beneficiaries, whose authenticity he said could not be verified because basis of selection was not provided for audit.
He also raised concerns over discrepancies and anomalies in relief food receipts and distribution by the National drought Management Authority.
He said discrepancies were noted in the dispatch and receiving records of the sub-counties visited, adding that the ministry does not follow up to ensure relief food sent to counties gets to the intended beneficiaries.
In the report tabled in the National Assembly by Leader of Majority Aden Duale, Ouko also raised concerns that the department is not involved in ensuring smooth logistics for transportation and distribution of relief support.
“In all the sub-counties visited, there was no comprehensive distribution records to show how the foodstuff received was distributed,” the report further read.
