The Auditor-General Edward Ouko has flagged Sh1.5 billion purchase of the Integrity Centre after questions emerge on valuation done by the National Lands Commission (NLC).
The fact that the NLC was the acquiring entity, its decision to carry out valuation of the property and not the Lands ministry, is a conflict of interest as it goes against the principle of protecting the monetary interest of the government in such transactions.
In a report tabled in the National Assembly, the NLC said that it requested for valuation services from the Lands ministry but Mr Ouko has denied the claim. Integrity Centre houses the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the process of acquiring it permanently for the commission was started in 1999 by the then Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC).
The NLC report of February 14, 2018 valued the land component at Sh795, 483,750 and improvements at Sh747, 899,166 but majority of the MPs believe that the price could be on the higher side and therefore no value for taxpayers’ money.
Although the compulsory acquisition of the property is shrouded in controversy, after claims that it belonged to the government before it was irregularly transferred to a private entity, Mr Ouko notes that the sale had the blessings of Parliament and the office of the Attorney-General.
