CS Mutua on The Spot Over Missing Billions

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua faces mounting scrutiny as the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) unveils startling revelations of missing funds during his time as the Machakos Governor.

In a comprehensive examination of the report issued by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, the Senate Public Accounts Committee has sounded the alarm regarding various projects that remain in limbo despite being awarded to contractors throughout Mutua’s decade-long tenure.

Among the prominently featured projects is the construction of two-story buildings, an initiative initiated in 2015, yet their finalization remains shrouded in uncertainty.

These revelations cast a shadow over Mutua’s stewardship during his time as a provincial leader, raising pressing questions about accountability and the allocation of public resources. The Cabinet Secretary now confronts the challenge of addressing these allegations and ensuring transparency in his current role.

According to the report, the former county boss awarded the contract in 2018 for the construction of the two buildings, a 12-storey building valued at Ksh399 million and an 11-storey worth Ksh394 million.

Gathungu, however, raised concerns that the contractors have since abandoned the projects as per a site visit her office made in October 2022.

Both of the buildings, which were set to be completed in eight weeks but remain incomplete, have drained a combined Ksh176 million.

The report also highlighted other incomplete projects including Mumbuni Dam, valued at over Ksh750 million and stadiums that were expected to take up Ksh147 billion.

In total, all pending projects from his 10-year tenure amounted to Ksh1.8 billion, placing the county among the most wasteful.

The CS was also accused of leaving the office ridden with pending bills to the tune of Ksh3.1 billion and Ksh1.14 billion as legal fees.

With the legal bills, Machakos ranks at the top for its contentious payments representing 37 per cent of all contentious bills by counties.

The accusation leaves a checkered past in the Tourism CS’s record to hit the ground in 2013 with grand promises to turn Machakos County into a breathtaking city.