County: Mombasa

In Detail:

In Kenya, billions of taxpayers’ money is allocated for development projects that often fail to serve their intended purpose. One such case has been unearthed in Kilifi County, where an incomplete dispensary in Sokoke Ward remains abandoned while funds are redirected to a duplicate project nearby. This alarming misuse of public resources was identified by one of Haki Yetu’s trained Accountability Champions, sparking outrage among citizens.

The stalled Mwarandinda Dispensary, located in Mwahera Location, Sokoke Ward, Ganze Sub-County, was initiated in 2015/2016 under the NG-CDF Ganze Constituency and was allocated Kshs 5 million under former MP Hon. Peter Safari Shehe, progressing to the roofing stage before stalling due to conflicts between the contractor, project management committee, and NG-CDF officials.

In 2017/2018, an additional Kshs 5 million from Equalization Funds under then MP Hon. Teddy Mwambire could not be utilized due to unresolved disputes, escalating the matter to court (Ref: Kilifi Misc. Application No. E15 of 2023), leading to a judicial order halting construction.

After a legal battle, in May 2023, the court ruled for arbitration, allowing the contractor to withdraw the case, and in the 2024/2025 financial year, Kshs 8.6 million was approved for Mwarandinda Dispensary under Equalization Funds, raising hope for completion.

However, in a shocking turn of events, instead of resuming construction, local leaders launched a new dispensary project just 100–200 meters away in Kang’amboni village, raising serious concerns about wasteful expenditure.

Following an investigation, EACC officers visited the site, summoned the MCA for questioning, and ordered a halt to Kang’amboni Dispensary’s construction pending further review. Thanks to relentless citizen action, the construction of Kang’amboni Dispensary has been temporarily stopped, with the EACC finalizing a report for the Governor, County Assembly, and other authorities, recommending the permanent cancellation of the new dispensary and completion of Mwarandinda instead.

The Mwarandinda Dispensary saga is a powerful example of how civic engagement and public accountability can prevent the wastage of public funds. Kenya’s Article 35 of the Constitution guarantees citizens’ right to access information, while Article 201 mandates that public money must be used prudently and responsibly. However, such cases expose systemic failures in adhering to these constitutional provisions. As citizens, we must continue demanding transparency, tracking public expenditure, and exposing wastage.