A Senate committee has fried Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba over the construction of a Sh1.4 billion hospital that his county used the same contractor during the two-phase construction of the Trans Nzoia Teaching and Referral Hospital, which started in 2015, stalled and resumed in 2017.
The first phase, that had been flagged by the auditor general, entailed construction of the physical structure, had a budget of Sh687 million while phase two, which included equipping the hospital, ended up costing Sh732 million.
“Why did the county go for direct procurement for a project of such magnitude? Couldn’t the county have gotten better rates outside there,” asked CPAIC chairman Moses Kajwang’.
“The contractor agreed to give us better 2015 rates, which was favourable to us. We sought the advice of PPOA and got the way forward,” said Khaemba.
The governor was also grilled on why a consultant was hired to supervise the project instead of using personnel from the county government and State Department of Roads and Public Works, as provided for in the law.
“Due to the complex nature of the works involved, the county contracted a consultant to support it with the management works. This was in line with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act that allows the use of consultants to supervise the works and issue an interim certificate on behalf of the employer,” said Khaemba.
The committee, however, demanded to see all documents related to the hospital’s construction.
“We would like you to submit within seven days detailed specifications of the hospital and the contract agreements,” said Mr Kajwang’.
The senators also grilled Khaemba over the stalled Kitale bus park that had gobbled up Sh229 million out of a budgeted sum of Sh355 million.
