War on tenders on as Governor Jack Ranguma blames local contractors

Senate Public Accounts Committee Chairman Bonny Khalwale(C) with member Martha Wangare(R) interact with Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma(L) after meeting over audit quaries report at Parliament. (PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO)

Kisumu lacks competent firms to handle huge projects offered by the county government, Governor Jack Ranguma has said.

The county chief said this has forced his administration to outsource contractors who have the ability to do quality work and complete their tasks within schedule.

Ranguma was responding to members of the county assembly (MCAs) who accused him of hiring 'outsiders' instead of providing employment to residents.

Yesterday, Ranguma said even though he had no influence on the awarding of tenders, he was privy to concerns by authorities that most firms applying for tenders fail due to their inability to convince panels of their ability to handle projects.

The governor also dismissed claims that he had failed to award tenders to residents and blamed the situation on procurement laws which do not give residents priority over 'outsiders'.

He said county contracts were awarded after rigorous procurement processes which are open for questioning by any concerned party.

"We must also realise that there are no laws binding the county government from giving tenders to residents.

"The current procurement laws make the process open to anybody and that is why you will see international firms winning tenders in Kenya," explained Ranguma.

EMPOWERING LOCALS

Last month, MCAs who witnessed the awarding of a Sh100 million floodlight contract to Match Electricals Limited said the move was working against empowering locals.

The award sparked a heated debate after it was discovered that the company is based in Nairobi.

The assembly members said the move to award tenders to non-residents was depriving Kisumu dwellers an opportunity for economic development and must end.

Minority Leader Edwin Anayo warned that the move does not match the ideology of investing in locals.

Anayo said Kisumu residents must be the key beneficiaries of both job opportunities and contracts within the county government in order to instill confidence in the role of locals in the development of the county.

"This is a message to all the sectors creating opportunities within the county. We have Kisumu residents who can do this work and they must be given an opportunity," he said.

Railway Ward Representative Isaiah Onyango said the county had enough qualified people who could handle contracts awarded to 'outsiders'.

SHARP DIVISION

"The local people must be empowered. We can't carry all the money meant for development to other people if the skills can be found within," he said.

This also comes after a sharp division emerged between the assembly and the executive over the award of a Sh808 million tender to an Indian firm for the construction of a new building to host the assembly and MCAs' offices.

The project has, however, been put on hold after the governor said there was no money to fund it.