The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Public Investments, Commercials Affairs and Energy put on the spot management of the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) concerning audit queries on the construction of its headquarters.
Members of the committee, led by Eldas MP Adan Keynan, identified cost variations totaling approximately Ksh500 million, a figure they deemed substantial.
KMA Director General Martin Munga and other key witnesses were also questioned on the increased cost, which was originally budgeted at Ksh1.7 billion but exceeded over Ksh2 billion.
“We are here to examine the books of KMA, which is housed here and to look at queries that were raised by the Auditor General and specifically about this building that we are in which is the headquarters of KMA,” said Pkosing.
“The Office of the Auditor General raised fundamental issues relating to variations. This building was designed to cost about Sh1.7B but eventually it has exceeded Sh2B. The question is what justification the bidders or contractors have in the variations,” he added.
Pkosing stressed the committee’s commitment to evaluating the value of money expended on behalf of taxpayers.
“We learned that some of the costs were associated with stabilizing the building to accommodate its 17 floors, including piling, soil stabilization, foundation protection, and other factors,” stated Pkosing.
However, the newly appointed KMA boss said the Sh500 million variation has yet to be disbursed to the contractor and is pending further discussions with the Ministry of Public Works.
The MPs hinted at the possibility of summoning former KMA Director General if he will be implicated in the ongoing investigations.
