Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has flagged irregular payments by the County Government of Siaya for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.

In the report, Gathungu highlighted a Ksh94 million variance in the payments made for the construction of the Siaya Stadium. According to the report, the county government entered into a contract for the construction of the stadium at a cost of Ksh394.6 million. The cost would later rise to Ksh488.7 million.

Gathungu faulted Siaya County government for failing to produce proof of recommendation by an evaluation committee for the Ksh94 million variation in the payments made.

In September 14, 2022, the Governor James Orengo led county entered into another contract with an investment company to provide roofing solutions for the stadium. The contract was worth Ksh35.5 million, taking the total stadium construction cost to Ksh524.2 million.

As at the time of the audit, Gathungu revealed that Ksh14 million had been paid to the roofing contractor and Ksh410 million to the main contractor.

“Physical verification on the stadium in September, 2023 revealed that the project remained incomplete more than 44 months from inception. ln the circumstances, management was in breach of the law and value for money on expenditure of Sh425 million for the construction of Siaya County Stadium could not be confirmed,” the report states.

The county was further flagged for its pending bills issue. Ksh421 million had been pending for more than 60 days, where as Ksh319.9 million remained pending for over a year. The oldest pending bill is over eight years old.

The auditor general report also flagged a Ksh6 million variance in another payment made by the county. Siaya is said to have spent some 296.7 million on specialised materials but available documents indicate a payment of Ksh287.4 million.