Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei has questioned the move to publicize the Auditor-General’s report regarding the alleged Sh11 billion cost escalation in the construction of the 60,000-seater Talanta Stadium.
Her remarks come after Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu flagged a sharp increase in the project’s budget from the Treasury-approved Sh35 billion to Sh45.85 billion, without what she termed a lawful explanation.
The revelation has triggered public debate over transparency, procurement procedures, and financial oversight in one of Kenya’s flagship infrastructure projects earmarked for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzani..
“The Report Is Not Final,” Shollei Clarifies
Speaking on the matter, Shollei emphasized that the Auditor-General’s report should not be treated as a conclusive finding of wrongdoing.
“What you must remember is the Auditor General’s report is not final in itself. The Auditor General audits the institution and the works that have been done, and when the report is ready they table it before Parliament,” she stated.
According to Shollei, once tabled, the report is referred to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) or the relevant parliamentary committee, such as the Parliamentary Investments Committee, depending on the issue at hand.
She stressed that it is only after a thorough parliamentary review, where stakeholders are summoned and interrogate, that a formal finding is made.
“The Public Accounts Committee can recommend prosecution. It can recommend further investigation. It can recommend certain actions to be taken against the officers and so on. Or it might give it a clean bill of health,” she explained.
Debate Over Publicizing Audit Reports
The Deputy Speaker also revealed ongoing discussions within parliamentary circles about whether it is appropriate for the Auditor-General to make reports public before parliamentary review.
“In fact, I remember we have had conversations about whether it is right for the Auditor General to make public their report because it is not complete. It has set a perception out there that the report in itself is final. Yet actually, it only becomes final once it comes before the Public Accounts Committee,” she said.
Her remarks suggest concerns that early publication may shape public opinion prematurely, especially in high-profile projects like Talanta Stadium.
The Talanta Stadium project has been under scrutiny with Kenya preparing to host major continental tournaments in the coming years, the project is considered a key infrastructure development.
However, the unexplained cost variation has fueled concerns among citizens and oversight bodies over fiscal discipline and accountability in public projects.
As Parliament prepares to review the Auditor-General’s findings, the Public Accounts Committee’s deliberations will be critical in determining whether there was financial mismanagement or whether the cost adjustments were justified.
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