The Friends of Karura (FKF) Community Forest Association (CFA) board has denied claims it embezzled shs 8million in construction of an office block.
Several FKF members complained that the FKF Board overspent the cash while putting up a new office block that houses FKF Management staff, forester and an office for the CFA members.
According to the disgruntled members, the construction cost of the office block was estimated at shs 38million but the board spent shs 46 million to complete.
The members also claimed that FKF had no approvals from relevant government agencies.
“The tender was not competitively awarded. The parking lot was overpriced and FKF audited financial reports for year 2017/2018 have been hidden from members,”
“There is also nepotism in employment and the former Chairman Professor Karanja Njoroge influenced employment of his Grandchild Boniface Muturi (In charge of accounts and admin) without requisite academic credentials, “read an email sent to Hot News.
The members also claimed that the FKF board does not adhere to the Public Finance Management act in its financial transactions despite using public funds.
They claimed the FKF board has mismanaged the Karura Honey Project that began in 2012.
The honey project was funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
The FKF Board led by the current chairperson Winnie Kiiru denied the claims and said everything they do is above board.
The management said the claims are untrue and that a total of shs 36 million was used in the construction of the office block and shs 6million to put up a parking lot for use by members.
The office block and parking are opposite the Belgium Embassy, Sigiria side of Karura Forest on Limuru Road.
During its 8th AGM meeting on 14th June 2017, the then chairman Karanja Njoroge acknowledged the pro bono services from architect Tim Vaulkhard, Edge Plan, Structural engineers and Barker $ Barton- quantity surveyors.
FKF vice chair Cristina Boelcke and Treasurer, Angelica Kamuyu said the architects services led to FKF saving shs 2million while putting up the building.
They said they used 36 million instead of 38 as had been budgeted.
According to the two, a total of 42million was used and not 46 as alleged by the disgruntled members.
They told Hot News FKF was given a go ahead by NEMA to put up the building.
“The land is owned by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), FKF is involved in conservation and there is a joint management committee of FKF and KFS that dealt with the other approvals. KFS does not need City Halls approval to build on its land. It’s a government entity, “said Mrs Kamuyu.
However, the disgruntled members insisted FKF should have sought City Hall and National Construction Authority (NCA) approvals.
Kamuyu and Boelcke said the joint management committee settled on restricted tendering and that the whole process was above board.
They denied nepotism and said Boniface Muturi is not Karanja’s grandchild since Karanja’s only child who is a daughter got married recently.
They said the Karura honey project is managed by the Huruma community and that they have no control over it.
“Such members should always come to AGMs. Our financial statements are always given out. I think he did not attend the last AGM and that explains why he is complaining,” said Boelcke.
Apart from NEMA approval, the FKF Board did not provide any approval documents from Nairobi County Planning department, NCA and an Environmental Impact Assessment report (EIA).