Auditor General calls for audit of Taita Taveta county Covid funds

Taita Taveta County Governor Granton Samboja. [Renson Mnyamwezi, Standard]

The Auditor-General has recommended an investigation into the expenditure of the Covid-19 grant by Taita Taveta County.

In a special audit report, the auditor revealed anomalies and contravention of procurement procedures in the use of the funds by the county.

On Wednesday, the County Executive Committee member for Health John Mwangeka dismissed claims that there are irregularities in how the Covid-19 funds were spent.

“As far as we are concerned no money has been stolen in the procurement of goods and services. I will go through the report to acquaint myself with its contents,” he said.

The special audit report done in March 2021 shows that the county irregularly procured beds and mattresses in contravention of the procurement law.

The report shows that the county used unregistered suppliers for goods and services.

The audit further revealed that the county received an Sh153.8 million grant which included Sh37.7 million from the national government and Sh4.5 million from the Danish Embassy.

The County Emergency Fund included Sh76 million, Sh1 million from Slovak Embassy and health workers allowances Sh34.6 million. In the report, the auditor notes irregular procurement of 240 beds and mattresses amounting to Sh9,163,200.

The report says an officer from the health department requested for procurement of 240 beds and mattresses for isolation wards on July 24 at an estimated cost of Sh45,000 and the County chief officer Philomena Kirote approved it the same day.

On July 10, 2020, Kirote requested hospital beds from Coast Institute of Technology and Taita Taveta University.

“The basis for this request is not known since the requisition for beds and mattresses was done on July 24, 2020,” stated the report.

The university quoted Sh14,859,700 but it was not clear when it was submitted.

The institute got Local Purchase Order to supply beds and mattresses.