The government has been put on spot about how taxpayers lost Sh16.3 billion through the Class One pupil laptops project by the Information Communication Technology ministry.

According to Auditor General Edward Ouko’s report released on Tuesday, it shows that payment of Sh15.2 billion as at June 30, 2017 did not include payment vouchers.

In a letter tabled by Leader of Majority Aden Duale, Ouko said that he could not account for the expenditures since payment vouchers were never presented for audit review.

The report further revealed that Sh603.1 million was spent for the supply of the laptops only as proof of concept after intensive defects were noted.

“The implementation Committee went around to inspect the laptops after supply and commissioning of the gadgets and realized that all had factory defects and were supposed to be replaced by the supplier,” said Ouko

The Auditor General also mentioned that another Sh1.6 million meant for the presidential digital talent programme cannot be accounted for.

There is also the expenditure of Sh28.32 million in county connectivity project expenses whose supporting documents were also not availed to the auditor general for review.

Jubilee Manifesto

President Kenyatta had allocated Ksh17 billion to the Digital Literacy Programme (DLP) for public schools that was mandated to provide free laptops for Class One pupils where 17,000 schools had been supplied with 992, 073 laptops with over 95, 000 teachers trained across the country .

The report is however, expected to be considered by the National Assembly watchdog committee - Public Accounts Committee (PAC)—chaired by Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi.