Governor Wycliffe Wangamati-led Bungoma County Government is once again on the spot for procuring mattresses and sterile gloves at a cost of Ksh.10,000 a pair.
This is a move taken by the county as part of its activities to combat Covid-19 that has bow hit the Country.
The allegations of the county procuring mattresses and sterile gloves at an exaggerated price come amid claims that the county chief procured 600 20-litre jerrycans at a cost of Ksh 10,000 each.
Wangamati was early this week put on the spot by Members of County Assembly over the misappropriation of Ksh. 6 million meant to combat COVID-19 in the county.
Speaking to members of the press on Tuesday, the Bungoma County Assembly Health committee accused the County governor Wycliffe Wangamati of sabotaging the probe on the allegations.
This is after senior officials and the county referral hospital superitendant failed to appear before the committee to answer the claims.
The committee chair Mr. George Makari expressed his disappointment after the committee secretariat was ordered not to appear for the grilling further accusing the house leadership of conspiring to cover up the scandal.
MCAs Tony Khaoya, Joseph Maguda and Aggrey Mulongo said the county government was involved and further threatened to initiate an impeachment motion against governor Wycliffe Wangamati.
However, Governor Wangamati on Saturday April 11, 2020 distanced himself from allegations of mismanagement of the said funds.
Addressing members of the press at the county offices, governor Wangamati expressed his disappointment over the issue terming it as inaccurate and misleading.
He went ahead to refute the claims clarifying that the county government distributed 368 120- litre jerrycans that were donated to them by well wishers and friends of the county to a few markets in the county.
“Let it be known that we don’t have 600 Jerry cans out there,we have 368 which were donated in a few markets and other public places. Let it also be known that the Jerrycans in question are not 20 litre,they are 120 litres.
“The 600 are the markets we had earmarked to receive atleast a jerican each. I challenge anybody with evidence to contrary or to effect that any officer in my government paid 10,000 Kenya shillings for a jerrycans to bring it forward or take it to EACC,county assembly and other relevant authorities,”he said.
He further noted that the county has received more donations including an assortment of PPEs,training in kind and sanitizer and also urged friends of goodwill to come in and help.
He called upon people to unite instead of creating scandals where there is none to settle meaningless scores.
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