Shock as Bungoma buys 600 20Ltrs Jerricans at Sh 10,000 #Covid19

A damning report from Bungoma County has plunged the name of Governor Wycliffe Wangamati into the corruption waters. The blatant theft report has made Bungoma the talk of the nation if not a laughing stock. MCAs in Bungoma have accused the county government of purchasing 600 empty 20 Ltrs Jerricans at Ksh 10,000 each. This is a total of Ksh 6 Million.
Average retail price of an empty 20 Ltr Jerrican in an ordinary market is Sh 150. Why should they go for a jerrican that equal 21, 50kg bags of cement in Kenya.

“EACC Must come and investigate Bungoma County. We want thorough investigations so that the culprits are brought to book,” Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula said.

Lwandanyi Ward MCA Tony Barasa said that all efforts by a section of MCAs to get answers from the Governor concerning the procurement of the Jerricans have failed. He castigated the county government, saying it had corrupt procurement officials taking advantage of Covid19 to inflate prices during the tendering process.
Township MCA Joseph Maguda said that it was pathetic that some individuals take advantage of a pandemic to steal from public.
“It is very inhumane that even at this time where everyone is pulling resources to fight this pandemic some people are taking advantage of the same ,”he said.

In an earlier interview with a local media, Bungoma Governor had a hard time demonstrating how his government has or is palnning to spend the Sh100 million from National treasury for the YR2019/2020 for emergencies. This was a question on accountability.The county government of Bungoma had reportedly rushed to borrow an additional Sh6.9 million from the Bungoma County Referral Hospital for Covid19 emergency kitty raising questions if the Sh100M emergency Fund even exists anymore yet no emergencies have been reported.
The Governor had to admit that the Sh100M is almost non-existent and he is reaching out with a supplementary budget for more money from the treasury.
“Pesa tumeguza, tumeanza kuguza kidogo kidogo… tukiendelea mbele… (We have spent the money here and there, a little bit..)” He said

Wangamati has also admitted that indeed money has been stolen and that he has left the matter to the parliament.
Speaking in vernacular local media, he said,
“It is true that questions have been raised on how that money was spent but we have left it to the assembly and once they complete their investigations we will take necessary action,”
Musikoma MCA George Makari said that the whole pursuit for answers to the corrupt deals in government is a futile exercise.
“We wrote to the people concerned as a committee and expected answers but to date they have with impunity refused to reply, yet documents in our possession show great misuse of funds,” said Musikoma MCA

This is not the 1st time Bungoma is in hot soup. The previous regime led by then county Boss Ken Lusaka when the County Government of Bungoma had reportedly purchased ten wheelbarrows at Sh 1M – Sh 109,000 each that tainted the county’s image.
The current scandal makes the previous a shadow of comedy as a commodity that costs Sh150 are branded “HYDROCHLOROGYNIC JERRICANS” and fraudulently purchased at Sh 10,000 each

EDITOR’S CALL
The health and safety of our community is our top priority and our thoughts must be with the affected patients, healthcare staff, and preventing spread of #Covid19 in these uncertain times.

Due to the spreading COVID-19 pandemic throughout the world and the uncertainty regarding the severity and duration of restrictions on travel and gatherings in Kenya, It is unethical for anyone to perpetuate corruption of any form that will lead to endangering Lives. It is prudent if the investigations can be carried out and those found to have abused their offices be brought to justice.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19

1. Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID19) is a new respiratory illness that can easily be spread from person to person.
2. COVID-19 is spread through contact with droplets produced by a person who is sneezing or coughing or contaminated surfaces or objects.
3. COVID-19 can cause severe symptoms like fever, cough, headache, body aches and difficulty in breathing.
4. COVID-19 is preventable through;
   –Washing your hands with soap and running water or using an alcohol based hand sanitizer,
   – Keeping a social distance of at least 2 metres or 2-3 steps from people with flu-like symptoms.
   – Avoiding shaking hands, hugging or kissing with people with flu-like symptoms.
   – Staying at home and avoiding travel when you have flu-like symptoms.
5. Early detection and treatment can contribute greatly to survival of the patient.
6. COVID 2019 cannot be transmitted through air.