Editorials

EDITORIAL: Account for laptop cash

Auditor-General Edward Ouko’s reports on how the various arms of government spend taxpayers funds is often a depressing affair and his latest on President Uhuru Kenyatta’s digital literacy programme is no exception.

Mr Ouko cannot vouch that the over Sh15 billion allocated to, among others things, buy every Class One pupil with a laptop, was properly spent. The reason is simple.

Payment vouchers were not provided to confirm expenditure as required by law. Even more distressing is the revelation that some Sh603 million worth of laptops were delivered but the devices were found to have factory defects and the suppliers are not identified nor have they bothered to repair them.

This audit of the programme under the ICT ministry reflects a worrying a pattern across most government agencies. It has become the norm that public funds are spent with little regard for prudence and accountability, and this is despite public outcry, which is a pointer to the impunity that has taken root.

Now, Sh15 billion is a lot of money that cannot be left to a few individuals to play poker with. Everyone involved in the project must be identified and made accountable for every single cent spent.

Where they cannot, investigative agencies should move in and institute abuse of office charges. That is the only way to ensure accountability.