Despite the government allocating a monthly maintenance fee for elevator repairs at Harambee House—which houses the Office of the President—and Nyayo House during the 2023/2024 financial year, the Auditor-General has revealed that some elevators in the two buildings are still not functioning.
According to the report from the Auditor-General, the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration, the State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services, and the Nairobi Regional Commissioner made payments amounting to Ksh16,767,359 for the maintenance of the elevators in the two buildings over a period of two years.
However, despite the payments being made in August 2023, an inspection conducted in September 2024 revealed that two lifts at Harambee House and two lifts at Nyayo House were still not operational.
Furthermore, according to the Auditor-General, no job cards for the maintenance of the elevators were provided during the audit.
The Auditor-General has further noted that the management of the two buildings did not provide evidence that a contract implementation committee was established to monitor the execution of the contract, as required by the Constitution.
"The State Department entered into a framework contract for the monthly maintenance of lifts at Nyayo House and Harambee House on 14 August 2023 for a period of two years at a contract sum of Ksh8,978,000," the report stated.
"During the year under review, the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services and the National Regional Commissioner made payments amounting to Ksh588,260, Ksh4,859,099, and Ksh1,320,000 respectively, all totalling Ksh16,767,359 to the contractor for lift maintenance using the same contracts," it added.
Following the physical inspection by the Auditor-General, a tender notice dated 1 October 2024 and seen by Kenyans.co.ke revealed that the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration had placed a tender notice for the replacement of lifts at Harambee House.
"The State Department for Internal Security and National Administration invites sealed tenders for the replacement of two lifts: supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of two lifts at Harambee House," the tender notice stated.
"Tendering will be conducted under an open competitive method at the national level using a standardised tender document. Tendering is open to all qualified and interested bidders," it added.
The Auditor-General has pointed out that the prolonged breakdown of elevators in the two buildings may pose a danger and cause inconvenience to staff and visitors accessing the premises.
"In these circumstances, the value for money on the expenditure incurred for the repair, servicing, and maintenance of lifts may not be realised," the report stated.
