Bungoma Pays 6,000,000 In Cash For 20-Litre Jerrycans At Ksh 10,000 Each

As the world continues with the fight against Covid-19, Bungoma County is struggling with a different type of epidemic-Corruption.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission officials have discovered that Bungoma County bought water jerry cans at 10,000 shillings each, where the suppliers were paid in cash.

The Bungoma county officials were put on the spot after cash amounting to 6.9 million shillings was withdrawn from the county’s bank account in a single day.

The money is said to have been withdrawn from Bungoma’s bank account on March 18, 2020, where nine cheques of 776,223 shillings each were given to county staff to pay suppliers.

EACC officials revealed that the cash was withdrawn from Kenya Commercial Bank on this particular day.

According to an EACC official in Bungoma, the big withdrawals from the bank are what raised suspicion adding that all withdrawals above 10,000 require tendering.

“The big withdrawals are very suspect and are in violation of public procurement law,” said the EACC Bungoma office.

“Anything above Sh 10, 000 requires tendering and we don’t withdraw cash to pay suppliers. The money should be wired.”

The Bank schedule payments showed that nine people namely Carolyne Nabalayo, Kizito Wabwile, Noel Nalyaka, Kevin Namulala, Pamela Serut, Martin Nyongesa, and three hospital workers received the withdrawn cash.

Another firm, (which EACC said will reveal its name later) supplied Bungoma County with 600 handwashing jerry cans but Bungoma County governor claimed the supplies were from an unknown donor.

However, the County’s Department of Special Programme minutes confirmed that the jerry cans were among the items already acquired to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are not naming the firm at this stage because we are still looking into their case,” EACC said.

READ: 90-Kg Bag Of Maize At Ksh 4,000 In Kakamega, Ksh 3,600 In Bungoma

“We have acquired the following and are being stored at Mabanga Farmers Training Centre: 600 bottles of sanitizers; 600 bottles of handwashing soap; 600 units of 20-liter taped jerry cans and 20,000 information flyers,” the Minutes by the County’s Department of Special Programme read.

Another conflicting information revealed that the supplier was only paid 1,400 shillings and not 10,000 shillings that the county said.

The source said,” The supplier was paid 1,400 shillings per jerry can and we just don’t understand how the containers cost 10,000 shillings.”

It also emerged that the supplier of the containers was put under pressure to change the details transactions to the county to appear like donations.

The EACC said it will have to look deeper into other suspicious purchases and take the necessary steps and prosecute those involved.

Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, however, said the accusations are not true, claiming that his rivals have waged war against his government.

He said those who have proof about the scandal to present themselves accompanied with valid documents to the EACC for investigations.

READ: Bungoma Governor Accused Of Procuring 20-Litre Jerricans At Ksh 10,000 Each