Lang’ata Member of Parliament Felix Odiwuor, alias Jalang’o, was obliged to clarify allegations that his constituency issued millions in bogus contracts.
On Sunday, February 2, the MP took to social media to respond to an audit report claiming he paid contractors Ksh32 million for various projects in the Lang’ata constituency.
According to the audit report, many projects in Lang’ata Constituency, including the construction and refurbishment of Kongoni Secondary School, were not completed to the required standards.
“Payments amounting to Ksh28,095,746 were made to a contractor on February 8, 2023, despite the performance bond for the contractor having expired on January 27, 2023,” the audit report read.
The report also claims that a new contractor was paid Ksh4,611,252, despite the lack of evidence of any extra work on any of the projects.
A physical examination in March 2024 revealed that the contractors in question had allegedly abandoned the project, creating additional questions about why they were still paid.
After the facts of the bungled projects were revealed on Sunday, Jalang’o made a statement.
He stated that the contractors were paid after their performance bond had expired due to delays by the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).
While stating that there was little to be concerned about in terms of county money misuse, the Lang’ata MP did hint that there was evidence of delayed fund disbursement since the NGCDF was taken to court by the contractors.
“Money is paid to contractors when it is available, when NGCDF was taken to court there was delayed disbursement, contractors worked finished and were paid after the contract time were expired. Nothing to be worried about,” the MP said on X, formerly Twitter.
In January 2024, Jalan’go provided an update on the Kongoni School, stating that it was nearly completed.The MP then urged parents interested in enrolling their children in Junior Secondary Schools to consider the school.
Meanwhile, the NGCDF is on the verge of extinction after the High Court pronounced it unconstitutional, and its operations would end in 2026.
Lawmakers are determined to keep the devolved fund from extinction.
Their most recent attempts include a constitutional amendment measure aiming at incorporating the NGCDF, Senate Oversight Fund, and National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) into the Constitution.
