By PSCU
Worth Noting:
- Committee members also had the opportunity of meeting a number of parties claiming ownership of the said piece of land. They included a few members of the Maasai Community, a private individual who claims it’s his ancestral land and two registered companies. However despite the court allowing NHIF management to fence the land in 2016, this has not been done.
- “Chair, everybody here has a Title Deed, however the DCI confirmed NHIF has a genuine title. When it comes to fencing this land in accordance with the court order, a budget of 4 million has not been approved, we are still waiting,” said Wachira.
The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture yesterday conducted two inspection visits of public projects done by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) in Karen and the Fund’s headquarters located in Community area of Nairobi.
The committee started by inspecting the 22.5 acres piece of land in Karen whose ownership is in dispute.
While on the mission, the Emanuel Wangwe-led Committee learnt that despite the release of KSh1.4 Billion by NHIF to initiate a resource centre project on the land, the contractor only delivered architectural designs now kept with the Funds offices.
NHIF Chief Executive Officer Elijah Wachira who is barely four months at helm of the institution found it difficult to explain the project.
“Chair, because of some reasons, the project has not kicked off, only architectural designs were done and are in our custody. According to records the designs only account for KSh1.4 Billion that was paid,” he stated.
Committee members also had the opportunity of meeting a number of parties claiming ownership of the said piece of land. They included a few members of the Maasai Community, a private individual who claims it’s his ancestral land and two registered companies. However despite the court allowing NHIF management to fence the land in 2016, this has not been done.
“Chair, everybody here has a Title Deed, however the DCI confirmed NHIF has a genuine title. When it comes to fencing this land in accordance with the court order, a budget of 4 million has not been approved, we are still waiting,” said Wachira.
The ommittee later visited NHIF headquarters where they inspected the controversial KSh3.9 Billion Multi storey car park project that initially had a budget of KSh900 Million.
There the committee concluded that there was no value for public money. The project was started but never completed since the floor had not been done and the car lifts have never worked as planned.
Committee members Caleb Amisi (Saboti), and Mary Wamaua (Maragua) questioned why there was change of design as witnessed and escalation of the original cost by 333 per cent from KSh900 million to KSh3.9 Billion. The number of floors was also increased without clear explanation.
Wangwe also sought to know why the management had indicated in their submissions to the committee that the project was completed in 2018 which is not the correct position on site. Subsequently, he asked why a further KSh700 million was withdrawn after the project was said to be complete.
The committee observed that the parking has now been turned to dead offices. “This is theft of public funds and those who did this must be brought to book, nothing was completed here,” said Wangwe.
NHIF Chief Executive Officer Mr. Elijah Wachira assured the committee that he will be providing all information needed.
Through the committee chairman, it was agreed that NHIF management appears before the committee on 13th March this year to respond to issues raised during this visit.
Ends….
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