The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has been put on the spotlight over claims of ballooning the cost of its Integrity Centre headquarters in Nairobi.
The National Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has questioned why the commission paid over three times the actual cost of the plaza in its purchase in 2016.
The committee on Monday sought answers from EACC boss Twalib Mbarak as to why the commission paid Sh1.5 billion for the building which was only valued at Sh400 million in 2016.
The committee also raised questions on how the valuation was done in the absence of the buildings architectural and structural designs which are very vital for valuation.
The committee also asked why the Ministry of Lands was not involved in the exercise.
“I just want to be told why it was not necessary to engage the Ministry of Lands as required by law for the proper value of the building and so that the public does not lose money,” the committee Chair and Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi said as quoted by the Nation.
The purchase of the building took place during Halakhe Waqo's tenure.
Mbarak and his team also admitted that the building's former owner was allocated public monies to do the renovations before EACC moved in.