Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has unearthed deep-rooted inefficiencies in the management of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), revealing widespread underutilisation of completed projects worth millions of shillings across the country.
The audit for the 2023/24 financial year identified Sh1,074,648,000 worth of fully completed but idle projects in 18 constituencies, painting a grim picture of poor planning and mismanagement of public resources meant to improve grassroots development.
While NG-CDF was established to spur tangible growth in local communities, the report notes that many projects remain unused or underutilised, with some lying idle for years after completion. This raises serious concerns over accountability and strategic planning.
Examples of abandoned projects include an ICT hub in Limuru valued at Sh3.4 million that has never been operational and staff housing in Laikipia North worth Sh1.5 million which remains unoccupied. Similarly, a borehole at Pala Primary School in Ndhiwa, constructed at a cost of Sh5.9 million, is non-functional.
In Mukurwe-ini, the Gumba Police Post, which cost taxpayers Sh734,059, was found deserted since a 2014 inspection. Equally alarming is the Turkana South case, where lecture rooms at Aro Teachers Training College, completed at a staggering Sh20.9 million, have never been used.
Other counties tell the same story. In Embakasi North, projects valued at over Sh23 million were finalised but never utilised. Emuhaya boasts a police headquarters costing Sh1.79 million that remains vacant, while four classrooms worth Sh15.63 million in Kangundo are yet to accommodate learners.
Gathungu’s report points to a worrying disconnect between project completion and community benefit, suggesting some projects were politically motivated rather than responding to genuine local needs. Once ribbon-cutting ceremonies end, many initiatives fail to transition into full operation.
The findings underscore a broader crisis in development responsiveness and institutional discipline. They call for urgent reforms to ensure public funds deliver their intended impact, moving beyond optics to sustainable grassroots transformation.
By People Daily