Built, billed, then abandoned: Sh1bn youth centres sit empty
Kenyan lawmakers are demanding an audit of over Sh1 billion spent on youth empowerment centers that remain non-operational three years after construction. The Public Accounts Committee expressed frustration over the lack of value for taxpayers' money as the government continues to fund these stalled projects.
Why it matters
It highlights systemic issues of government waste and accountability in public infrastructure projects during a period of economic strain.
Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs.
MPs have decried the over Sh1 billion sunk into the youth empowerment centres (YECs) across the country that continue to remain non-operational three years after they were unveiled, as they demanded a status audit.
The members of the National Assembly Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) made the demand after Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu flagged some of the 156 youth centres across the country as seriously understaffed.
Ms Gathungu’s revelations are contained in her report before the National Assembly on the audited accounts of the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy for the fiscal year 2024/25.
Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs appeared lost as PAC members questioned the rationale of continued sinking taxpayers' billions into ventures that have no value for money at a time Kenyans have been slapped with a punitive tax regime to finance government operations.
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