Nation Newspaper, 15th October, 2009
Irregularities: Watchdog exposes anomalies in way land was bought for Shs290m by council.
Buying of Burial Land Faulted
A state watchdog has exposed serious anomalies in the purchase of cemetery land at a cost of shs290 million by City Hall. The Kenya National Audit office has written to the local Government permanent secretary Sammy Kirui demanding explanations on how the money for the purchase of 100 acre land in Mavoko Municipality was released.
The agency, which falls under the office of the Prime minister, also wants to know how the ministry authorized the Shs290million payment without ascertaining the real owner of the land and whether it was suitable for burial.
The fresh queries arose following an audit that unearthed anomalies in the purchase of the land, including failure by the ministry and the City Hall to carry out any valuations before purchase. The letter to the PS dated October 6 this year and signed by a Mr. T.N. Waweru on behalf of the controller and auditor –general, questions how the ministry released an initial Kshs 175 million to a law firm acting on behalf of the Nairobi City Council for the purchase of the land
It was noted that this payment was done even before any land had been specifically identified and all agreements for purchase of the land executed” the letter notes. It all questions how the ministry released Kshs.175 million, being part of payment for the purchase of the cemetery land , without a professional undertaking by the law firm that the funds were to be held in the City Hall’s accounts to ensure their security.
Contacted, Mr. Kirui declined to comment on the queries, saying he had not received any letter. He also denied reports that the ministry’s role in the transaction was being investigated by the Kenya anti-corruption Commission. ``I cannot say anything, maybe the letter is still in the queue. I will only talk once I have seen it”.
Agency writes to Local Government PS, demanding explanations over matter.
Story on page 8/National news, Daily Nation by Peter Leftie