The new board chairman is said to be keen on the Auditor General’s report for the year 2019/2020 where there was an alleged irregular procurement of motor vehicles and boat insurance cover. According to the report Ksh.3, 003,788 was spent on motor vehicles and boat insurance covers. However, requests for quotations provided for audit review did not specify the risks to be covered and the limits of cover. Further, a review of documents submitted by bidders revealed that each bidder quoted for different cover limits and risks; hence the bid prices were not comparable
The recently appointed Kenya Maritime Authority board chairman Hamisi Mashobo Mwaguya has hit the ground running and heads are set to roll over alleged rampant corruption at the authority. Mwanguya has vowed to clean up the authority with his main target being officers believed to have been behind the numerous corrupt scandals at the Maritime Authority.
KMA Director General Robert Mutegi Njue is said to be a worried man. Having been at the helm, the buck should stop with him. Mwanguya is said to be keen on the Auditor General report for the year 2019/2020 where there was an alleged irregular procurement of motor vehicles and boat insurance cover.
According to the report, Ksh.3, 003,788 was spent on motor vehicles and boat insurance covers. However, requests for quotations provided for audit review did not specify the risks to be covered and the limits of cover. Further, a review of documents submitted by bidders revealed that each bidder quoted for different cover limits and risks; hence the bid prices were not comparable.
It was further discovered that tender evaluation minutes revealed that no technical evaluation of the bids was done and the audit review of the quotations revealed that only two bidders responded out of the six invited.
However, the quotations were evaluated, contrary to Section 106 (2)(d) of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015 which requires the Accounting Officer to ensure that at least three (3) companies shall submit their quotations before evaluation. The report further revealed irregular procurement of branded promotional items valued at Ksh.5, 360,500. The branded promotional materials included water bottles, umbrellas, notepads, brochures and booklets. Interestingly, the items were all procured through restricted tendering.
The Management sent tender invitations to eight firms from the prequalified list of 53 suppliers. This was contrary to Regulation 54(3) of the Public Procurement and Disposals Regulations, 2006 which requires a procuring entity to invite tenders from at least ten persons selected from the prequalified list maintained for the restricted tendering method.
Further, the tender was not advertised on the Kenya Maritime Authority website as per Regulation 54 (3)(d) of the Public Procurement and Disposal Regulations, 2006.
In addition, the use of the restricted tendering method for the supply of branded promotional items and brochures was not justified as the goods and services procured were readily available and not of any complex nature. Based on the above, the Management was in breach of the law and the Director General is said to be on the receiving end with the new chairman promising to take action.
