Legislators commence probe over Eldoret University dodgy tenders

Lawmakers have commenced investigations into how Eldoret University issued tenders running into millions of shillings without the right documentation.

The MPs who sit in the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education committee chaired by Bumula MP Wanami Wamboka (pictured) were shocked to learn that the university issued and paid for the tenders yet there were no valid contracts, bills of quantities as well as in some cases there were no extension letters extending the services of the contractors.

At a meeting with the university vice chancellor Thomas Cheruiyot, the MPs accused the university management of engaging in corrupt and fraud deals whose aim is to benefit a few individuals.

The tenders worth Sh586.7 million include the proposed construction of school of business student and Economics amounting to Sh157.11, Proposed Construction of Masonry Perimeter Fence Phase III amounting to Sh27.55 million, acquisition and setting up of a ERP System Imprest Reports at Sh19.1 million, Procurement of Cleaning Services at Sh185.4 million as well as the construction of Amphitheatre at Sh373 million

Said Wamboka: “We will be going to this university to see for ourselves whatever is going on. We want the board, the management and the contractors summoned to appear before us to explain how they can give such huge tenders without documents.”

He added: “This meeting is crucial because we will be charging these people and before we do this we want to hear from them.”

Corrupt deals
Wamboka said it is regrettable that such a public institution can spend public money through corrupt deals yet it is supposed to benefit the public.

Kiminini MP Kakai Bisau raised concerns over how the university awarded the tenders saying the entire process was faulty and wrong.

Said Bisau: “we need to go to this university, something is not right at all.”

The decision of the committee comes after the Auditor General in her reports for the financial years 2019/2020/2021 and 20222 fingered the institution over mis-apparition of funds.

On the Proposed Construction of Schools of Business Studies and Economics at University of Eldoret, Gathungu’s report raises concerns that the payments so far made on this were not supported by signed payment schedules, site meeting minutes and the project manager’s instructions.

On the construction of a perimeter fence, the report says that although the project was supposed to be completed by November 2017 Site visit done on August 6, 2019 revealed incomplete works such as plastering, electrical works and painting.

Reads the report: “Management explained that the contractor had been instructed to correct the defects before handing over which the contractor is yet to comply with.”

With regards to the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system imprest report, the report says that the system duplicated imprest surrender multiple times resulting in overall reduction in imprest owing to the University and the total receivables.