Large sums of public money continue to be wasted in constituency development projects, raising questions about the use of taxpayers’ funds and the commitment of leaders to deliver services to the people. A recent audit report by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu paints a grim picture of how funds under the National Government Constituency Development Fund have been handled, showing billions lost through delays, poor workmanship, abandoned projects, and outright ghost developments.
According to the findings, more than KSh 1.3 billion has already been tied up in projects that either stalled, were abandoned midway, poorly done, or in some cases, were found to exist only on paper.
In 29 constituencies, projects valued at about KSh 495.6 million were singled out as either abandoned or incomplete. These include vital works such as classrooms, ICT hubs, police posts, and other facilities that were supposed to serve the public but now stand as empty structures or unfinished sites.
The problem stretches far beyond these few cases. In 157 constituencies, projects worth KSh 6.9 billion had not been completed within their planned timelines by the close of the financial year ending June 2024. This means communities continue waiting for services, while the costs of construction rise and partially done works risk going to waste.
Even where some projects have been completed, the quality of work has left citizens with facilities that are either unsafe or unusable.
The audit exposed KSh 696.99 million across 65 constituencies tied to shoddy construction, weak structures, and irregular procurement practices. These poor standards not only waste public money but also put lives and resources at risk.
On top of this, completed projects worth KSh 101.1 million across 18 constituencies are lying idle.
They are not serving the people because of poor planning, lack of official handovers, or failure to commission them for use.The misuse of funds is not just about physical projects.
The audit also revealed KSh 26.7 billion in unspent or unutilised money across all 290 constituencies by June 2024. Officials often blame late disbursements by the NG CDF Board, but the report stresses that weak planning and poor governance are also responsible.
Citizens are left paying the price for mismanagement, as their needs in education, security, healthcare, and connectivity remain unmet.
According to the Auditor General, the failures identified are a denial of value for money and a betrayal of public trust.
Key issues include weak contract management, gaps in procurement, incomplete land documentation, lack of monitoring, and missing completion certificates. In some cases, projects even lack branding to show their funding source, making accountability harder.
The report has already sparked outrage among citizens and in the media, but no detailed national response has yet been offered. There are growing calls for thorough investigations into ghost and abandoned projects, holding both local leaders and contractors to account.
Regular inspections, stricter quality controls, and mandatory documentation have been suggested as ways to strengthen oversight.
Timely release of funds and proper planning would also help avoid unnecessary delays.
For projects that are complete but unused, the focus should be on auditing, rehabilitating, and commissioning them so they can finally serve the people.
Substandard works should either be repaired or rebuilt, and clear information on project status and financial details should be published so that communities can demand accountability.
For millions of citizens, especially in rural areas, development remains a promise written into budgets but never realized on the ground.
The challenge for leaders is to restore faith in public spending by ensuring that every shilling counts toward improving lives. Until accountability is enforced, the financial and social costs will continue to grow, leaving communities trapped in waiting for services that may never arrive.
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