Kisumu Finance CEC nominee put to task over Sh19m vehicle purchase
Kisumu county Finance Executive nominee was Friday taken to task over the controversial procurement of Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o’s official vehicle.
Nyong’o had reportedly rejected the Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicle valued at Sh19 million over unclear reasons. He is said to have told county officials he was comfortable using his current car.
Appearing before the County Assembly Appointment committee for vetting, the Finance nominee George Okong’o had a hard time explaining the role he played to ensure accountability prevailed in the purchase of the said vehicle. At the time he was the acting county secretary and economic advisor to the governor.
The committee, chaired by acting Speaker Elisha Oraro, wanted to know why the vehicle was being disputed by the county government even after its procurement procedures were approved by officials in the same government.
Kondele MCA Joakim Oketch, a committee member, sought to establish why the vehicle had not been handed over for use by the governor months after it was purchased
He said the vehicle was lying idle despite costing taxpayers millions of shillings.
“We would want to know the rationale behind the happenings,” said Oketch.
Okong’o told the committee the vehicle is undergoing government valuers' assessment to ascertain if it is suitable for use by the governor.
Subject to the assessment report, he said, the vehicle supply contract is likely to be reviewed if there are illegalities surrounding the process.
At the same time, the committee questioned why some seven ambulances procured by Nyong’o’s administration more than a year ago had not been delivered.
The nominee was also tasked to give strategies he will apply to boost the county annual revenue collections and clear pending bills.
Okong’o promised to strengthen revenue streams, proper revenue collection assessment and investment in revenue collection systems.
He said the county’s automated revenue system was inefficient and there was need to review the service providers’ contracts.
Okong'o was picked by Nyong'o to replace embattled former Finance Executive Nerry Achar, who was impeached by area MCAs.
