Graft team to probe wheelbarrows saga

Bungoma County government has invited the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate the saga surrounding the purchase of 10 wheelbarrows for over Sh1 million.

Governor Ken Lusaka met senior county officers at an Eldoret hotel on Saturday and said corruption would not be tolerated.

“Wananchi should get value for their money. Are the funds being used properly? The people are watching what we are doing,” Mr Lusaka said.

“If you are stealing what you’ve been allocated, you lack integrity.”

PERFORMANCE CONTRACT
Mr Lusaka said he also expected a report from officers involved in the purchase of the wheelbarrows. Every wheelbarrow cost Sh109,000.

He also said the county government had entered into an agreement with Price Waterhouse Coopers to evaluate workers in order to boost service to the public.

Employees would be made to sign performance contracts.

Mr Lusaka hit out at leaders “tarnishing the name of my administration”.

“Ignore sideshows and discharge your duties. There are agencies which have been given the mandate to investigate corruption. Smear campaigns in political rallies will not work,” the governor said.

RESIDENTS SPEW OUTRAGE
The county was in the news last week when it bought wheelbarrows for the agriculture department.

Bungoma residents and Kenyans in general expressed outrage in the social media when it emerged that a wheelbarrow cost Sh109,000.

According to officials, the wheelbarrows would be distributed to farmers.

The governor defended the purchase, saying the wheelbarrows were of higher quality that local ones.