Nairobi: The Treasury has summoned seven permanent secretaries over delays in the completion of key projects under the Sh22 billion Economic Stimulus Programme. The initiative was meant to spark economic growth by creating employment and income generation opportunities in all constituencies. The permanent secretaries will be required to explain why their ministries had not completed the tasks, despite receiving funds from the government.

The accounting officers targeted are Prof Karega Mutahi (Local Government), Dr Karanja Kibicho (Industrialisation), Prof Micheni Ntiba (Fisheries), Mr Mark Bor (Public Health), Prof John Lonyangapuo (Public Works), Prof James ole Kiyiapi (Education) and Dr Romano Kiome (Agriculture).  However, Health and Fisheries ministries are said to have successfully executed their mandates of hiring nurses and building fish ponds, respectively

This follows a December audit that found most constituencies and ministries had little to show for funds disbursed in the last financial year.  According to the audit, only seven of the 210 constituencies had built health centres under the first phase of the programme (ESP I).

The programme is in its second year, meaning the projects for the first year should long have been completed. Each constituency was allocated Sh20 million for health centres.

The ESP Project Update report dated January warned that the projects, involving the construction of model health centres, constituency development industrial centres, district headquarters, markets and fish ponds, were behind schedule.

The Treasury also directed the ministries to provide a detailed status report by Sunday and all pending phase one projects be completed by the end of June.

The ESP programme was unveiled by Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta two years ago.  It was meant to jump-start the economy following the global downturn that saw the country record a miserly 1.7 per cent growth in 2009, down from a high of 7.1 per cent in 2007. Mr Kenyatta described the stimulus package as a stop gap measure aimed at jump-starting the economy for long term growth and development.

According to Finance ministry statistics, seven model health centres had been completed, while 27 others were close to completion.  Bonchari, Dujis, Fafi, Garsen, Ijara and West Mugirango are among constituencies that had completed the project implemented by the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation.

The Ministry of Local Government had not completed even a single market by January. Only four market projects were considered to be "near completion" out of the planned 180 in the same number of constituencies.

The government is spending Sh1.8 billion on markets, with each of the constituencies receiving Sh10 million and the Ministry of Public Works providing technical assistance.

The programme seeks to establish markets in agricultural areas to boost business and rural enterprise development.

The Office of the President, according to the implementation status documents of January, had not completed any district headquarters. Only five structures were listed as being closer to completion. The Industrialisation ministry had constructed 16 jua kali (informal) sheds, with 34 nearing completion.

The government set aside Sh500 million for the project, with each constituency getting about Sh2.5 million. An additional Sh210 million had been budgeted to equip the sheds.