Evans Kidero tells off MPs over e-pay system

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has accused three MPs of politicising the county’s electronic system of collecting revenue.

Dr Kidero insists that the system has increased transparency and accountability and asked MPs Benson Mutura (Makadara), George Theuri (Embakasi West) and Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete) to keep off.

Last week, the MPs asked Dr Kidero to cancel the contract awarded to Web Tribe Ltd, which collects revenue through JamboPay. The company won the Sh23.2 million contract and it is supposed to keep 4.5 per cent of the collections.

However, an auditor-general’s report in July revealed that the system was improperly procured. Web Tribe, says the report, won the tender though it was the most expensive.

The three MPs now want the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the matter.

Dr Kidero on Sunday maintained the tender was awarded competitively under the criteria set by the county government.

The governor said the overall county revenue collection went up by about Sh1.44 billion in the 2014/2015 financial year, contrary to allegations by the MPs that the e-payment deal had led to reduced revenue collection.