Insurance firm manager defends Sh30 million county tender

By NAFTALI MAKORI

The manager behind the insurance brokerage firm at the centre of a suspicious Sh30 million tender for Nyamira Members of the County Assembly has defended the deal, saying it was above board.

Kennedy Ogutu of Johncele Insurance Brokers Limited, a Kisumu-based company, told the County Assembly’s Public Investments and Accounts Committee chaired by Ezra Mochiemo that due process was followed. 

“I have no doubt with the process and I am confident a quality service will be provided,” said Mr Ogutu.

He told the committee that his company was reputable and has experience in insurance brokerage services.

Ogutu explained that a caller from the county assembly informed them that the company was identified among those prequalified in Nyamira and were invited to pick tender documents.     

He was confident that the MCAs would get value for the Sh30 million already paid. He added that additional services like group life and funeral cover would be provided.

Ogutu took the MCAs through the insurance jargon, explaining why the Sh30 million was a premium and not a sum assured as the committee had earlier argued.

The MCAs a few weeks ago refused to fill data forms to enable the company proceed with service provision.

An investigation into the tendering process was lodged as MCAs maintained that the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2005 was grossly violated.

Ogutu could not tell which of the four envelopes contained the tender documents of his company.

“Copies presented to me appeared as if it was one envelope photocopied several times,” he told the committee.