The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has raised alarm over high number of stalled state-initiated projects across the country.  

Chairperson Hon John Mbadi said reports tabled before the Committee indicated that most projects had stalled despite consuming millions of tax payers money.

"We have established that some of the projects have to incur additional cost due to breach of contractual agreement between the government and contractors," said the chairperson.

Hon Mbadi made the remarks when the Committee grilled Principal Secretary for the State Department of Public Works, Mr Joel Arumonyang over audit queries raised in the audited accounts for the Financial Year 2020/2021, at Parliament today.

The Committee questioned why for instance the ambitious Voi Pool Housing project had taken too long to be completed.

"The project was meant to deal with the issues of challenge of the shortage of houses residents in that area were facing, and also ensure decent living conditions for occupants, but its completion is taking longer than expected," the chairperson observed.

The Committee resolved that it will start visiting projects mentioned in the Auditor General's report to get first hand information about them before drafting its reports.

"The first project the Committee will visit is the Voi Housing project so that we can countercheck the facts being tabled before the Committee," he added.

Hon Mbadi noted the State Department had a critical role to ensure that citizens get value for money in projects funded by the tax payer. 

Bura MP, Hon Kuno Adow Yakub blamed

rogue contractors for stalled projects and over improprieties in issuance of tenders by relevant State departments.

"The PS should tell the Committee what action they have taken on some rogue contractors who abandon projects after being paid millions of shillings," he said.

Mr Arumonyang explained that most of the projects stalled due to cash flow challenges blaming the National Treasury for not releasing cash for the projects.

The PS was unable to respond to some of the audit queries raised by Members and asked for more time to prepare further responses.

The chairman gave Arumonyang two weeks to prepare his response and present to the Committee.