National Youth Service is yet again under scrutiny following revelation that it built Sh533 million markets in Karen and Ngong Road which cannot be traced.
According to Auditor General Edward Ouko, only over priced materials were located on the site, bringing the NYS yet again under scrutiny.
The audit report says information available on the procurement of construction materials for the Karen and Ngong markets showed that the materials ordered were in excess of the estimated cost of Sh53.5 million for Karen and Sh143 million for the Ngong Road market, which amounted to Sh196.5 million.
The balance of Sh336.5 million has not been explained.“It was not possible to determine how the quantity of materials required was arrived at and if the materials procured and received were of the right quantity and met specifications as per the approved designs and engineer’s estimates,” says Mr Ouko in the report.
Further, no site handing over minutes have been provided to show that management had conducted due diligence and secured the land before committing public resources and exposing the public to loss of funds.
‘’As a result, it is not possible to confirm that public funds were applied lawfully and in an effective way as required under Article 229(6) of the Constitution of Kenya and that Article 232(1)(b) of the Constitution of Kenya was applied as required under the law.”
NYS has been under scrutiny in recent years, with Sh800 million reportedly lost in 2016. The current Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru, who was adversely mentioned, is yet to be prosecuted.
Even more recent, another scandal came about, with over 40 people among them former PS Youths Lilian Mbogo charged in court. During that time, an estimated Sh400 million were reportedly stolen.