Members of Parliament have put the Tharaka Fund Account Manager on the spot over alleged unprocedural procurement processes and failure to confirm the value of the fund’s assets.
Appearing before the Decentralised Funds Accounts Committee, chaired by Mwingi Central MP Gideon Mulyungi, the manager faced tough questioning over the absence of key ownership documents, including the missing title deed for the land on which the constituency’s NG-CDF offices are built.
The committee was reviewing audit queries raised by the Auditor General over a 10-year period from the 2013/14 to 2022/23 financial years, covering both Tharaka and Chuka-Igambang’ombe constituencies.
Aside from the title deed concerns, the Tharaka Fund Account Manager was accused of undertaking procurement processes without following due procedure. His counterpart from Chuka-Igambang’ombe constituency was also interrogated for making similar unprocedural procurement decisions.
MPs further criticised delays in the implementation of projects during the 2022/23 financial year. The former manager attempted to justify the delays by attributing them to interference caused by the election cycle.
His explanation was swiftly dismissed by Webuye East MP Martin Wanyonyi, who questioned how elections could interfere with projects when fund managers are not directly involved in political campaigns.
Meru MP Dorothy Muthoni echoed the sentiments, stating that the electoral period does not halt the disbursement of NG-CDF funds, insisting that projects should continue uninterrupted regardless of the political environment.
The committee has since scheduled a follow-up meeting for next week, where both constituencies will be required to present detailed documentation including Bills of Quantities (BQs), procurement records, completion certificates, and photographic evidence of the projects.
The lawmakers emphasised that the session aims to enforce accountability and ensure full compliance with public finance management regulations.
