Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero. (Photo/Standard)
The battle for Nairobi’s gubernatorial seat has shifted to delivery of projects, as Governor Evans Kidero’s competitors now dig into audit reports to put him down.
According to documented evidence by the Auditor General and the Controller of Budget, the governor's regime is painted in a grim picture that has continuously diverted county monies meant for development to the recurrent budget.
Jubilee aspirant Mike Sonko and running mate Polycarp Igathe are exploiting in-competencies highlighted in the audit reports to show that Kidero has sold the city short.
“At the halfway point for this 2016/17 financial year, Nairobi County has been ranked 45th out of 47 on the use of its development budget, meaning that it’s already terrible development spending has just got worse,” Igathe said.
“Since 2013, Nairobi County has spent, on average, only 13.1 per cent of its approved budget on development and yet it has been able to spend, on average, 86.9 per cent on recurrent expenditure,” he added.
The Jubilee aspirant says that in consequence, several projects have been left halfway and risk being abandoned for good even after the county sunk into them hard-earned taxes.
“No reason was given for failing to pay for budgeted and certified works. Some of the projects had passed their completion dates. This project mismanagement leads to further loss of funds - through fines and penalties, for instance,” said Auditor General Edward Ouko in a report of 2014/15.
“Money meant for one purpose, say utilities, has been used for another purpose, typically to pay per diem and travel allowances,” Igathe said.
“In short, it costs taxpayers nearly Sh7 in recurrent expenditure to receive Sh1 worth of new development every year. The truth is that taxpayers would get more development if they paid for it through a Chama."