An audit has raised concerns about the Kenya School of Law’s expenditures on a library and moot court construction, revealing that Sh358 million has already been spent since the project began in June 2013, yet it remains unfinished.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu noted that it was impossible to verify if this expenditure provided any value. The project, initially contracted for Sh488.7 million, was scheduled for completion in September 2016 but has seen no progress after seven years.
Gathungu criticized the management for failing to provide necessary documentation, such as site inspection reports and meeting minutes between the contractor and the school’s management. She also pointed out that the contractor did not adequately justify the delays.
Additionally, the audit questioned the payment of Sh7.2 million in liquidated damages to the contractor, paid despite the project’s ongoing delays. The audit report raised further issues, including the management’s failure to submit bank reconciliation statements as required by law, and the irregular renewal of medical insurance costing Sh23 million, which violated procurement regulations.
The KSL board was also found to have held 30 meetings during the review period, exceeding the allowed six without appropriate approval, which Gathungu indicated was a legal breach. Furthermore, the school failed to remit Sh26 million in value-added tax as required by law.
In summary, the audit highlights significant financial mismanagement and legal violations within the Kenya School of Law.