Ksh 4.1 Billion NG-CDF Bursary Funds Untraceable
In a startling revelation, Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu has flagged Ksh 4.1 billion in bursary allocations under the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) for the year ending June 2024. This audit exposes significant gaps in accountability, with 125 constituencies failing to provide essential records to substantiate their bursary disbursements.
The Breakdown of Missing Funds
The audit report indicates that:
-
86 constituencies could not present records for Ksh 2.12 billion, including receipts from schools, acknowledgment forms from students, and admission numbers.
-
An additional 39 constituencies failed to account for Ksh 1.97 billion, lacking documents such as bursary application vetting records, committee minutes, policy guidelines, or assessment reports.
These discrepancies raise serious concerns about the management and oversight of public funds intended for educational support.
Implications for Students and Educational Equity
The NG-CDF bursary program is designed to alleviate the financial burden on students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The mismanagement and lack of transparency in disbursing these funds have direct consequences on the beneficiaries. Without proper documentation, it's challenging to ascertain whether the intended students received the support they desperately need.
Systemic Issues and Accountability
This isn't an isolated incident. Previous audits have highlighted similar issues:
-
In Soy Constituency, the Auditor-General reported adverse opinions due to lack of supporting documents for bursary expenditures, including unaccounted-for land purchases and incomplete project implementations.
-
In Kibwezi East, the report raised concerns about unpresented bursary payments, some dating back to February 2024, with no evidence of follow-up by the Constituency Development Fund Committee.
These recurring issues point to systemic failures in the management and oversight of NG-CDF funds.
The Role of Constituency Development Fund Committees
The Constituency Development Fund Committee (CDFC) is entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the allocation and utilization of NG-CDF funds. The persistent lack of documentation and accountability suggests a failure in fulfilling this mandate. The absence of proper record-keeping mechanisms and oversight structures undermines the integrity of the entire bursary program.
What's Your Reaction?
