𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐔𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐘 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐑𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐂

𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐔𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐘 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐑𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐂

  𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

The National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Delegated Funds Accounts (DFAC) has urged the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) to improve communication and engagement with constituency offices during the implementation of jointly funded electrification projects.

The call was made when REREC C.E.O, Dr. Rose Mkalama, appeared before the committee to respond to queries raised by the Auditor-General concerning projects in Mukurweini Constituency.

The Auditor-General had questioned the status of two electrification projects funded under REREC's matching fund programme. According to the audit report, the constituency had transferred funds to REREC for the projects, but auditors were unable to find evidence acknowledging receipt of the money. In addition, the projects could not be identified during the audit process.

Responding to the concerns, Dr. Mkalama confirmed that REREC had received the funds from the constituency and had contributed an equal amount under the matching fund arrangement. She said the two projects were successfully implemented.

To support the response, REREC presented photographs of the completed projects, commissioning certificates, and completion certificates showing that the works had been carried out.

However, the committee noted a communication gap after it emerged that the constituency fund manager was unable to identify the projects on the ground despite the documentation presented by REREC.

Committee Chairperson Hon. Gideon Mulyungi said the situation highlighted the need for closer collaboration between REREC and constituency offices during project implementation.

"Both parties are financiers of these projects and therefore all parties should be involved during implementation," he said.

Hon. Mulyungi recommended that REREC consistently involve constituency offices during implementation to completion of projects to enhance accountability and make it easier to track investments made using public funds.

Dr. Mkalama explained that the matching fund programme is designed to expand access to electricity in rural areas through a partnership between REREC and constituencies under the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF). Under the arrangement, constituencies contribute funds, which are matched by REREC, while the corporation undertakes the installation of power lines and transformers.

The committee expressed confidence that improved coordination between REREC and constituency offices would help strengthen oversight and ensure kenyans fully benefit from rural electrification projects.