Nanok, Munyes in bitter exchange over tenders

A bitter verbal exchange between Governor Josphat Nanok and Senator Peter Munyes marred proceedings of a parliamentary committee, where the Governor was questioned over procurement irregularities.

The political rivalry between the two played out after Mr Munyes accused the county boss of micro-managing procurement of high value goods and services and ensuring that lucrative tenders are only awarded to companies and individuals associated with him or his cronies.

Mr Nanok, who was appearing before the Senate Public Accounts and Investment Committee, quickly refuted the claims saying he had given the county officials power to handle procurement. He also accused Munyes of using the parliamentary privileges to fight him politically, because "he was eyeing the Turkana gubernatorial position".

"Munyes is now my opponent. He has already declared that he will contest the governor's position in 2017. But I am asking him not to take advantage of this committee to bring his political issues here. Politics should be taken to the field where we will square it out," Nanok said.

The governor had been put on the spot by the committee members over the manner in which procurement was being conducted by his administration following the Auditor General report which reported flouting of procurement laws and the Public Finance Management Act, by employing single sourcing in purchase of high valued goods.

But the argument intensified immediately Munyes walked in and lifted the lid on the alleged rot in the manner the county finances were being run. He claimed that for one to win a tender in the county government "one must be in the good books with the governor or County Finance Executive Emathe Namuar."

"The sickness of the county government is that all these tenders have to be approved by the governor or the finance executive. The ministers in that administration are very competent people, they can do better were it not for the interference from the two offices," claimed Munyes.

He added: "Tenders there take too long to be awarded because they have to be approved by the governor and the finance executive. If one wins the tender fairly and is not known to the governor it is cancelled and re-advertised and Nanok knows this. That is why it is taking years to have services delivered to the suffering women and men in Turkana".