AG report exposes more irregularities

MISAPPROPRIATION of public funds increased from K28 million in 2015 to K162 million last year, an increase of over 500 percent, the Auditor General's report has confirmed.

The report indicates that unaccounted for revenue had increased from K558, 499 in 2015 to K3,700, 509 in 2016 while misappropriation of funds had increased from K28,153,997 to K 162,095, 699 in the same period.

Unaccounted for funds had increased from K193, 910 in 2015 to K386, 384 in 2016.

This is contained in a statement made available by Office of Auditor General head of public relations Ellen Chikale.

The report also indicates that unretired accountable imprest also increased from K12,659,892 in 2015 to K17,559, 399 in 2016 and unaccounted for stores increased from K13,460,323 in 2015 to K14,428,573 among others. “Unaccounted for revenue which had increased from K558, 499 in 2015 to K3,700, 509 in 2016 which misappropriation of funds had increased from K28,153,997 to K 162,095, 699 in the same period,” the report reads in part.

Ms Chikale said that although unvouched expenditure seemed to have reduced from K349,309,160 in 2015 to K170,559,399 in 2016, it was still the highest ranking irregularity for the period under review and that it continued to be an area of high concern for the office.

She pointed out that the other irregularity that was of high concern to the office was the misappropriation of funds which stood at K3, 618, 127 in 2016.

Ms Chikale said that during the same period, irregular payments reduced from K115, 350, 860 in 2015 to K1, 591, 348 in 2016.

She said that the report indicated that failure to follow procurement procedures reduced from K35, 701,492 n 2015 to K509,535 in 2016.

“Instances of undelivered materials reduced from K251,523,804 in 2015 to K116,759, 240 in 2016, wasteful expenditure reduced from K39,854,959 in 2015 to K3,586,879 in 2016 and over payments from K26,559,013 to K1,061,247 in 2016,” said Ms Chikale.

Ms Chikale said that despite the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) making recommendations to resolve the issues, the number of issues resolved had not improved, while the number of outstanding issues had continued to increase from 400 in 2012 to 927 in 2014.