Huduma costs set to be scrutinised

Nairobi residents wait in a lobby to be served at the Huduma Centre at Teleposta Towers, Nairobi. The cost of setting up Huduma Centres will be the subject of scrutiny by the Public Accounts Committee after documents submitted by the Devolution and Planning ministry showed expenditure that appeared inflated. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Records show that setting up of the offices cost Sh437 million of the Sh1.2 billion spent by the directorate of public service management in the 2013/2014 financial year.
  • In some cases, the costs for the Huduma centres were curiously similar: Sh2.4 million for the digital printing of a poster, Sh1.2 million for an informational sign, Sh2.4 million for editing and half of that for a banner. 

The cost of setting up Huduma Centres will be the subject of scrutiny by the Public Accounts Committee after documents submitted by the Devolution and Planning ministry showed expenditure that appeared inflated.

Records show that setting up of the offices cost Sh437 million of the Sh1.2 billion spent by the directorate of public service management in the 2013/2014 financial year.

Among the expenses at Huduma centres was the Sh174,000 used to buy 20 ball point pens.

There was also the purchase of 100 4-GB flash disks at a cost of Sh242,500. 

In some cases, the costs for the Huduma centres were curiously similar: Sh2.4 million for the digital printing of a poster, Sh1.2 million for an informational sign, Sh2.4 million for editing and half of that for a banner. 

Some transactions were vague, such as the payment for “purchase of items in Huduma Centres” where Sh282,534 was spent.

Curiously, the ministry spent Sh10.6 million to refurbish Nyeri Provincial Commissioner’s office and fashion it into a Huduma centre, an amount enough to put up a new building. 

On Tuesday afternoon, committee Chairman Nicholas Gumbo described Huduma centre as an avenue for corruption.

“I don’t want us to get to a point where we order a special audit on Huduma Kenya. There is a red flag there,” Mr Gumbo said.  

Devolution Principal Secretary Peter Mangiti has since said the figures were not accurate.

But he told the committee that the data was retrieved from the Integrated Financial Management Information System. 

Mr Dennis Mutuku, the Huduma centre secretary, said the blueprint for the design of the centres was done by the University of Nairobi Enterprises and Services department.  

Kieni MP Kanini Kega said the revelations were a cause for worry, given that the ministry’s budget had been increased.  

The asset register also showed that Sh4.9 million was used to set up and furnish the office of the Cabinet Secretary at Harambee House.