Graft clogs wheels of justice

MPs came face to face with a catalogue of wastage when they toured Judiciary projects at the centre of their investigations into massive corruption.

A cargo container converted into a data centre at a cost Sh106 million, a dilapidated maisonette bought for Sh310 million, and a Sh70-million lease for a building not in use, one year later, confronted the MPs from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Chairman Ababu Namwamba said the three projects — only a fraction of those done under questionable procurement deals — were part of grave audit queries, according to Auditor-General Edward Ouko’s report into claims of corruption.

A cursory glance inside the container data centre at the Supreme Court gives the impression of a cargo container converted into a cheap storage facility. But a closer look reveals a computer here, a labyrinth of electric wires there.

“This containerised data centre has neither been tested nor put to use more than a year after it was procured, the supplier having received 80 per cent of the payment,” said Mr Namwamba.

The PAC chairman said the Judiciary IT director had also not been consulted before the facility was acquired, and had said it was not a priority. A cheaper option could have been acquired in place of the expensive “data centre” meant to digitise Judiciary operations.

The house meant to be the official residence of Chief Justice Willy Mutunga in Runda, is undergoing massive renovations despite it having cost Sh310 million.

PAC says there are questions surrounding the Judiciary committing taxpayers’ money to buy the residence and yet there was no prior valuation, nor assessment by the Judiciary tender committee to ensure value for money.

“It is evident the tender committee did not visit to evaluate before closure of the transaction,” he said.

He said it had come as shock that even after spending the amount to purchase the property, the Judiciary is spending even more money to renovate a residence thought to have been ready for occupancy.