Auditor-General queries Wajir County tender process

The Auditor-General has raised questions over the tendering process for a construction project and supply of relief food in Wajir County.

A report by the Auditor-General has raised concern over construction of the Wajir County Government headquarters.

The county is also on the spot for awarding a Sh69 million tender for supply relief food to a local hardware firm knocking out 25 food suppliers who had placed their bids.

The Sh 136 million tender was awarded to a company that quoted Sh 10 million more than the lowest bidder.

“Examination of bill of quantities and other related records revealed that the lowest bidder was evaluated and quoted Sh135,699,339.60,”the audit report stated.

But the county awarded the tender to the second lowest bidder, who quoted Sh 136 million.

“A bidder (specialised in hardware business) based in Wajir was the second lowest bidder was awarded the contract to supply the food items at a cost of Ksh.69,189,600. However, the firm had no experience in supply of food items as it had not scored in the evaluation report,” the report stated.

The report further stated that the supplier did not provide certificate of analysis from the Kenya Bureau of Standards to confirm the suitability of the supplies for human consumption.

PAYROLL

“A review of the invoices reflects that it had no date and the delivery notes were not signed. The same food was not acknowledged by the County Government since it was received in the stores records. There was no indication of the ID cards of those issued with food,” said the report.

The report also queried the expenditure of Sh 54.9 million to buy goods which were not taken on charge.

Another anomaly unearthed by the auditor includes suspicious payment of salaries to two employees.

“There was one (1) 1030193473997 bank account that was shared by two staffs in the month of February,2014. No proper reason was given on how the officers shared one account,” the report stated.

The auditor also exposed the continuous retention of public officers who had already attained the age of 60 in the county payroll.

At the Wajir County Assembly the audit report showed suspicious mileage claims by some 20 MCAs amounting to Sh 23.7 million.

“In some cases distance travelled entered in the work tickets supporting the claim does not tally with the actual distance in kilometre to the furthest settlement in the ward as shown in the chart of distances by the Ministry of Roads, Transport and Public works,” said the report

The auditors have also spotted recruitment irregularities in hiring of staff in the assembly after the county advertised for 21 but ended up hiring 227 staff.