A damning audit has uncovered widespread rot in school infrastructure projects worth Sh6.6 billion, exposing how public funds were mismanaged under the State Department for Basic Education across 30 counties. The Auditor-General’s 2023/2024 report reveals a trail of stalled projects, shoddy workmanship, and suspicious payments, painting a grim picture of how taxpayers’ money may have gone down the drain.
The projects, which were meant to deliver 1,506 classrooms, 863 laboratories and 1,932 sanitation facilities, were awarded to 25 contractors in April 2022. However, the audit found that many sites suffered unexplained delays, poor workmanship and incomplete delivery. Performance bonds had expired, and oversight mechanisms were glaringly absent.
Auditor- General Nancy Gathungu flagged the absence of proper documentation and oversight in the payment process. A three-member technical committee was tasked with certifying contractor payments, yet lacked representation from schools and procurement officers. No minutes or inspection reports were available to support the disbursements, violating Regulation 139(3) of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Regulations, 2020.
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By June 30, 2024, construction had not begun on 30 classrooms, 40 laboratories, four water projects, and 471 sanitation blocks valued at Sh573.9 million. Despite this, Sh4.8 billion which accounts for 72% of the total contract value had already been paid, while only 77% of the work was completed. Advance payments totaling Sh658.6 million were issued, but only Sh475 million had been recovered. Five contracts had surpassed the 90% completion threshold, yet Sh18.3 million remained unrecovered.
The report also highlighted 267 stalled projects worth Sh344.2 million in Tana River, Kwale and Taita Taveta counties. No penalties were enforced and termination clauses were ignored despite contractors abandoning sites for over 28 days.
Physical inspections in Homa Bay and Baringo counties revealed alarming defects. At God Bura and Tonga Boys Secondary Schools, laboratories had cracked floors, lacked water and gas connections and were inaccessible to students with disabilities. Furniture supplied was of poor quality, with protruding nails and splintered surfaces. Despite complaints from school administrators, no corrective action had been taken.
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In Baringo, the contractor for a Sh3 million laboratory at Marigat Integrated Day Secondary School was absent during inspection. At Marigat Boarding Primary School, sanitation facilities worth Sh900,000 were incomplete and poorly built.
The findings raise serious concerns about accountability and the safety of learners. With performance bonds expired and oversight mechanisms bypassed, the report warns of significant systemic failure in project execution.
By Masaki Enock
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