PAC Expresses Concern Over The State Of Infrastructure Of Kenya’s Embassies Abroad
Public Accounts Committee Chairperson John Mbadi (Right)
By: John Kariuki
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has expressed concern over failure by the Foreign Affairs department to better the status of infrastructure at the Kenyan embassies abroad.
Chairperson John Mbadi said reports by the Auditor General indicated that the structures that housed Kenyan embassies were in a sorry state.
“The report shows that the country is spending millions of shillings to rent buildings for our Ambassador and staff because Kenyan property were not fit for habitation” said the Nominated MP.
Hon. Mbadi made the remarks when the Principal Secretary, State Department on Foreign Affairs, Dr. Korir Sangoei led a team of officers to appear before the Committee to respond to audit queries during a sitting in Parliament of Kenya today.
The Committee was surprised that the department was spending more than Sh23 million to pay for a rented residence for Kenyan Ambassador in New York because a house meant to be his residence was in deplorable condition.
The Committee also learnt that the other structures that were to house staff at the Embassy were in a bad state and required a face-lift.
Members of the National Assembly wondered why the State Department on Foreign Affairs was not improving the state of the already existing properties for staff occupancy and cut down on costs.
In his response, the PS noted that they could not undertake refurbishment of the houses because they were being starved off cash by the National Treasury.
Said Dr. Singoei:”Ksh700 million meant for the exercise was cut from our budget that is why we have been unable to conduct infrastructural development”.
The Public Accounts Committee further questioned why the department had not settled pending bills amounting to more than Ksh 264 million.
Hon. Mbadi noted that the move had subjected many vendors to alot of suffering after they provided services to the State.
The PS also attributed failure to settle pending bills to lack of funds as the National Treasury had not disbursed money for the same to the Department.
The Committee continues with its sittings tomorrow. PS State Department for the ASALs and Regional Development will appear before it to respond to audit queries.
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