COVID-19: Governors, civil servants put on notice over procurement
Governors, Principal Secretaries and head of parastatals risked being prosecuted, if they flaunt procurement rules in the acquisition of goods and services in respect to the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) has said it is aware that heightened public resources have been deployed in procurement of goods, works and services by national and county governments to mitigate measures against the spread of the disease.
As such, EACC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Twalib Mbarak held his commission will be keenly watching the utilization and management of public resources by all county government and state agencies to avert any loss or misuse of public resources during the current extra ordinary period.
“The commission wishes to draw the attention of all county governments that in undertaking the aforesaid interventions and procurement, it will be expected that applicable laws and regulations are strictly complied with,” Mbarak said in an advisory letter addressed to the Council of Governors (CoG), Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jacqueline Mogeni.
“To this end, we request that your office circulates this advisory to all county governments for noting and compliance,” he added.
“Each county government is therefore required to take measures to ensure that no loopholes are created during this time of crisis to permit corruption mainly through failure to adhere to the applicable laws and procedures relating to public procurement and financial management,” EACC added a letter also copied to COG Chairman Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua.
On Monday, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga came under heavy criticism from residents and politicians in the county over his move to label a donation of sanitizers from a Kibos Sugar Company with his portrait .
They accused Kahiga of making political capital out of a donation from Kibos Sugar Company at the time when county is battling COVID-19, a pandemic that has so far claimed seven lives in the country.
“It’s wrong for our governor to imply through labeling the donation with his portrait that what the residents are using comes from him directly yet we all know that it’s a donation from a well-wisher,” said a social media user who asked: “Why politick during hard times?”
They held that the money used in purchasing labels and branding repackaged bottles should have been used to purchase more sanitizers, personal protective equipment for medical personnel or at least be used in purchasing food for the needy members of the community in informal sectors
