Roads ministry defends request for Sh9.45b days to August polls

 

The Ministry of Roads, Transport and Public Works has defended its decision to request Parliament for additional Sh9.45 billion days to the August 9, 2022, General Elections.

In submissions to National Assembly’s Public Petitions Committee, the ministry noted that the money was for upgrading Lamu-Ijara- Garissa Road (2.8 billion), dualling of Eastern Bypass (Sh4.8 billion) and construction of Makupa Causeway (Sh1.85 billion).

It said the request for the funds was based on recommendations by National Security Council.

The ministry said the three projects are crucial links with a bearing on security and hence needed enhanced urgent funding.

“The three projects as of March 2023 still have outstanding ongoing works within the contract which has not been paid,” it added.

The ministry issued the responses after the Consumer Federation of Kenya petitioned the House to investigate the matter.

The funds were issued in advance of Parliamentary approval under Article 223 of the Constitution to the State Department of Roads in the period preceding the August 9 General Election within the 2022/2022 Financial Year.

Under Article 223 of the Constitution, the national government may spend money that has not been appropriated by Parliament if the amount allocated for any purpose is insufficient or a need has arisen for expenditure.

The ministry said Sh9.45 billion was received on August 5, 2022, by the State Department and transferred to the implementing agencies- Kenya Urban Roads Authority and Kenya National Highways Authority.

The ministry added that the three projects had approved budgets under the Printed Estimates 2022/2023 which were insufficient to finance the already certified works.

“The three projects were ongoing contracts which had been awarded much earlier and were therefore not new and normal spending had been appropriated by Parliament on a project by project basis though under quite insufficient allocations,” the report added.

It added that the approved expenditure has since been regularised by the National Assembly under the auspices of the 1st Supplementary Budget Appropriation Act 2023.

The ministry invited the committee for a visit to the three projects “for them to appreciate their value and existence.