MPs Probe Missing Sh3.6 Million In Suneka Police Station Project

A delegation of MPs from the Decentralized Funds Accounts Committee has uncovered irregularities in the construction of Suneka Police Station in Bonchari Constituency, where Sh3.6 million meant for the project cannot be accounted for.

Led by Committee Chairperson Dr. Gideon Mulyungi, the lawmakers inspected the station following a complaint by area MP Charles Onchoke to the NG-CDF Board over delayed payments to the contractor.

During the inspection, the legislators established that part of the funds had been withdrawn by members of the Project Management Committee (PMC) without proper approvals.

“We have come to ascertain the state of the project, to listen to the PMC, previous fund managers, the CDF Board, and the user department, which is the Kenya Police Service,” Dr. Mulyungi said.

He noted that records point to Sh3.6 million having been irregularly withdrawn during the tenure of former Fund Account Manager Stephen Onserio and then PMC chairman William Omae.

“It is clear that the Sh3.6 million whereabouts is not known. As a committee, we are going to crack the whip. We will not allow PMCs to embezzle funds and lay the blame on MPs, who have nothing to do with the usage of these funds,” he warned.

Testifying before the MPs, Beatrice Mayore, who was the PMC secretary at the time, admitted that she was sent to withdraw Sh1.069 million in intervals between July 6 and August 30, 2023, on behalf of the committee. The PMC chairman, William Ongeri, is also reported to have withdrawn Sh2.381 million within the same period, without the approval of the NG-CDF Board.

The committee accused the PMC chairman of breaking the law and misusing public funds.

The Suneka Police Station project, valued at Sh21 million, was initiated in the 2017/2018 financial year and funded over four years. Despite confirmation that the station is now complete and occupied by police officers, the contractor, Hammer Time, told MPs that only Sh16 million has been paid, with Sh4.5 million still outstanding.

The committee will retreat to review all submissions made and issue recommendations, including possible action against those found responsible for mismanaging the funds.