National Treasury headquarters in Nairobi. [ photo / Nation. ]
The ministry of ICT is on the spotl for defiance of Treasury's rules in purchasing 23 four-wheel-drive vehicles at a cost of Sh 104 million despite being allowed to only buy 12 vehicles.
According to a qualified audit report by the Auditor general Edward Auko, the ministry of ICT also breached its approved budget of Sh91.2 million in the purchase of the fuel guzzlers resulting to an over expenditure of Sh 13,135,548.
Kenya had in 2010 introduced a policy of leasing of motor vehicle that sees the car dealer service the vehicle for a period of four years or until the car clocks 160,000 kilometres and in return the state pays a monthly, quarterly or annual fee and returns the vehicles to the dealer once the contract expires thus cutting down the purchase cost.
“As reported previously, records available indicate that a total of Sh104,335,548 was spent on the purchase of motor vehicles during the year under review against a budgetary provision of Sh91,200,000......,” reads parts of the Audit report compiled for year that ended on June 2016.
Ouko through the report also notes that the ministry had on January 15 been given a go ahead by Treasury principal secretary to buy 12 four-wheel-drive cars at a total cost of Sh70,695,190 but defied the order and it instead went ahead to purchase 11 more vehicles.
Ouko has further accused the ministry for violating the Procurement and Disposal Act of 2005 on use of restricted tendering by unlawful awarding tenders in partitioning of Teleposta Towers, tilling of Uchumi House and refurbishment of a stand at Nairobi Show Ground.