Alarm as county assembly buys wooden chopping board for Sh20k
The Baringo County assembly has been put on the spot for purchasing a wooden meat chopping block for Sh20, 000.
The revelation is contained in a report by the assembly Public Accounts and Investment Committee adopted by the MCAs on Monday.
The MCAs said the block bought by the previous assembly (2013-17) should not have cost more than Sh2,000.
In the report passed during a special sitting on Monday, it emerged that the supplier, Brandhouse Solutions, was paid upon delivery and receipts were issued thereupon, which the committee was improper as all payments were supposed to be done through IFMIS.
Nominated MCA Saphina Chelagat raised concern about the wastage of public funds saying those involved in the misappropriation of public funds should be held accountable.
PUBLIC RESOURCES
“How can a piece of wood which is not more than Sh2, 000 sell at Sh20,000? This is pure wastage of public resources and those responsible for the purchase should be surcharged the amount in excess of the market price at the time,” said Ms Chelagat.
Majority leader Lawi Kipchumba said that a log used for cutting meat in the kitchen cannot cost Sh20,000 and those who procured the item should be investigated.
“There are a lot of shoddy jobs, stalled projects and misappropriation of funds at the assembly. We are calling on Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to come and follow the people who were here before because some items such as a chopping board was procured at a price that would cost a whole tree. Selling us a log of two feet high at such a cost is a joke,” said Mr Kipchumba.
It also emerged renovations were done at the assembly’s restaurant and canteen at a cost of Sh17 million but that the work was shoddy and not worth the figure indicated.
The last assembly also purchased a washing machine which has never been operational.
There was also delay in the extension of the assembly offices since 2014.
The Nairobi News established that the contract was awarded to Swift builders and Civil engineering Ltd in November 2014 at a cost of Sh40 million.
The completion date was supposed to be August 2015. However, the company requested an extension to April 2016 but it yet to be completed to date.