The State Department for Water and Sanitation has come under scrutiny after an audit report revealed that Sh96.95 million was spent on borehole projects that either stalled or failed to produce any water.

Auditor General Nancy Gathungu’s 2022/23 report raised concerns about the management of funds allocated for drilling boreholes, noting that Sh49.7 million was spent on delayed projects, while Sh47.2 million went into boreholes that were non-productive.

According to the report, the funds were largely wasted on boreholes that either failed to function or were far behind schedule, leaving communities without access to water.

“Anomalies were noted on three contracts where boreholes drilled were of low or no productivity at all,” the report stated.

The audit flagged several projects, including a Sh9.8 million borehole at Limanet Primary School in Narok North, which stopped producing water shortly after completion, despite the contractor being fully paid and all necessary certificates being issued by June 30, 2024.

Another project at Masindoni Secondary School in Chepalungu constituency, which cost Sh10.6 million, only yielded a small amount of water in the mornings.

Meanwhile, the borehole at Chebastuiye Secondary School, which was funded with Sh11.7 million, dried up after just two months.

The inefficiencies were further highlighted in three boreholes at KMTC Trans Mara in Emurua Dikirr, Emurua Dikirr Secondary School, and Kiptagei Primary School, where a total of Sh32.55 million was spent without any water being produced.

By November 2024, authorities were still searching for alternative drilling sites.

The report questioned whether proper hydrogeological surveys had been conducted before drilling, stating, “It could not be ascertained whether hydrogeological surveys had been done and what measures Management was putting in place to ensure the same does not occur.”

Delays in other borehole projects were also highlighted.

For instance, the Kipchobet Primary School borehole, which was supposed to be completed by November 2023, remained unfinished by November 2024.

Similar delays were reported in projects at Olokyin borehole, Sasumua Primary, Kwirindochei Primary, and Kapsigot Primary, where contract agreements had expired without renewal or additional agreements to ensure project completion.

Despite partial payments being made, none of these projects had been completed by November 2024.

“The contract agreement had expired, and there was no addendum to bind the two parties to project completion and the contract had not been renewed,” the report read.