MPs put EACC on spot over purchase of Integrity Centre building

 

National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee has put EACC on the spot for paying Sh1.5 billion to acquire the Integrity Centre building without the necessary documents from the seller.

Committee chair Wilberforce Oundo (Funyula) noted that EACC paid Sh1,518,00,000 for the building that houses the anti-graft body headquarters despite the seller not providing crucial documents.

EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak, who had appeared before the committee to respond to audit queries for the Financial Year 2020/2021, was put to task over the acquisition.

The auditor's report stated that it was impossible to determine whether the Commission obtained value for the public funds used in the acquisition of the Integrity Centre due to the lack of essential documentation.

"The Auditor General noted that the Commission paid Sh1,518,000,000 to the National Lands Commission for the compulsory acquisition of the Integrity Centre. However, a letter from the State Department for Public Works said valid ownership documents were not availed," the report stated.

Furthermore, the report revealed that development plans submitted by the National Lands Commission to the EACC were rejected due to missing structural details, architectural drawings, and services drawings.

The provided structural drawings were also not approved, as required by the Nairobi County government.

As a result, effective planning for essential electro-mechanical services, refurbishment, and redevelopment of the Centre were impeded.

In light of the findings, Oundo questioned the urgency behind the Commission's decision to make payments for the project without obtaining the required documents as mandated by the law.

"What was the hurry for...the speed at which money was released for the projects without required documents being availed to the buyer is what has led to the audit query," said Oundo.

Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera expressed disappointment over the involvement of a body responsible for fighting corruption and ensuring prudent use of public resources in questionable transactions.

In his response to the Committee's inquiries, Mbarak defended the Commission, asserting that no money was lost in the acquisition of the building.

He stated that all the necessary documents were eventually received by the Commission on April 26, 2022, and forwarded to the Public Works department for authentication.

"The Department confirmed that the building was adequately designed and supervised by the competent structural engineer and thus advised the Commission to settle the outstanding balance," clarified Mbarak.

The PAC has demanded a valuation report and certificate of the official search for the property within one week.         BY THE STAR