The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education wants the Management of the University of Eldoret investigated for financial misappropriation, and face prosecution if found culpable. 

Led by Chairperson Hon. Wanami Wamboka (Bumula), the Audit committee today undertook an inspection tour of the University’s stalled Amphitheatre project valued at Kshs. 373Million, whose construction commenced on 10 June, 2019 and was expected to be completed on 14 December, 2020.

However, the Legialators’ visit to the facility revealed not only a stagnation in its construction, but a series of poor financial decisions that have subjected the University to unreasonable losses after the main contractor terminated their services to the University. 

“This project was completely mismanaged by allowing a contract termination and then onboarding sub-contractors, this has cost a lot of money, and the whole process is chaotic.” Remarked Hon. Mark Mwenje (Embakasi West).

According to the University’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Thomas Kimeli Cheruiyot, the main contract collapsed due to funding issues, therefore they engaged sub-contractors to continue some of the works. A move that the Committee has termed as illegal and in contravention of Procurement Laws. 

“You’re confirming that you paid sub-contractors, despite having a running contract with the first who abandoned the site, making it illegal.” Stated the Chairman Hon. Wamboka. “Since they all exist on the basis of the main contractor, making direct payments to them is an illegality.”

The Committee has now resolved to make a recommendation to the House to sanction the involvement of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in investigating the financial mismanagement of the Amphitheatre Project by the Project Manager, domiciled at the Ministry of Public Works.

“The Project Manager from the Ministry of Public Works has heavily mismanaged the projeect and continually misadvised the institution, thereby exposing it to losses.” Said Hon. Francis Sigei

The Committee, through the chairperson has pronounced itself on the matter, advising that the Project Manager should be investigated by the EACC and DCI, and that he should be barred from holding any public office or work for any government institution until the matter is resolved. 

“There was a breach of the Public Procurement Act Sec. 9 as well as Article 201 (d) of the Constitution,” outlined Hon. Wamboka. “Money has been spent and lost, we will be making a proposal to the House for EACC and DCI to quickly investigage the institution and the prudence of the use of public funds.” 

The MPs reached this decision, on the basis of the fact that Procedures were not followed, legalities sorrounding payments aren’t proper as some paymenta were done without proper contracts- exposing the institution and government as a whole to financial improprieties.