Mwendwa put to task
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa was yesterday taken to task to explain his role over the loss of Sh 165million awarded to a company to install equipment at various stadia in the country ahead of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in 2018.
Mwendwa was, however, quick to distance himself saying that there was no way he could procure for government and was only in a position to explain why the country failed to host the continental showpiece.
Members of Parliament who sit in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chaired by Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi sought to know why Mwendwa who was the chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) pushed to have Gregory International Company awarded the tender at the expense of local companies.
The championship was to be held in Kenya in 2018, but it was moved to Morocco after the country delayed in the preparation of stadia on time as advised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Led by Wandayi, MPs Aden Duale (Garrissa Town), Peter Masara (Suna West), Ngugi Nduati (Gatanga) Wilberforce Oundo (Funyula) and Jessicca Mbalu (Kibwezi East) demanded to know where Mwendwa drew his powers to make such orders, which was against the provisions of Public Procurement and Disposal Act (PPDA).
Duale who accused the FKF boss of being part of the corruption syndicate robbing the public, sought to know who gave him powers to settle on Gregory International and why the company was awarded the tender without the law being followed.
“This is part of the corruption web, you started by preparing your external collaborators. You cannot run away because you are in the middle of this procurement.
Your own letters are indictments. You are here because of the loss of public funds.
Who gave you the powers to write a letter to the PS recommending the use of a company without tendering?” asked Duale.
“ First you started by inviting them, then you went ahead and influenced the tender awards which is contrary to article 227 of the constitution on procurement,” he said.
Oundo sought to know the level of involvement of FKF in the award of the tenders and whether the decisions emanating from Confederation of African Football (CAF) is binding.
Nduati sought to know why FKF failed to invite local companies to undertake such tasks which Kenyan companies had the competence to do.
