- Barasa clarified that the association of suppliers should sensitize its members on the due process to be followed in contractual processes.
- Barasa lauded his predecessor former Governor Wycliffe Oparanya for putting in place systems that allowed the new government to settle pending bills.
Image: FILE
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa now says county governments should ensure proper documentation to reduce pending bills owed to suppliers and contractors.
Barasa clarified that the association of suppliers should sensitize its members on the due process to be followed in contractual processes.
“They need to be sensitized that when you are given a verbal tender then the possibility of being paid is low so that people know there should be proper documentation,” Barasa said.
The county boss was speaking during an interview on KTN NEWS alongside Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o and Association of Suppliers Secretary General Simon Gichuki.
In the financial year 2022/23 Annual County Budget Implementation Review Report, the counties with the least pending bills were Lamu (Sh29.70 million), Nyamira (Sh90.28 million), Nyeri (Sh138.72 million), Kakamega (Sh134.31 million), Kirinyaga (Sh319.40 million) and Kwale (Sh176.06 million).
“In Kakamega, we have a template, when the tender is advertised people will apply then whoever wins through a fair process gets an award letter. The County Supply Chain Management staff will then give you a contract and you will discuss the deliverables,” he said.
The contract he said, will be the green light for any supplier or contractor to officially begin delivering the agreed service after an entire supply chain of documentation.
Barasa lauded his predecessor former Governor Wycliffe Oparanya for putting in place systems that allowed the new government to settle pending bills.
CoB Nyakang’o noted that the complaints by suppliers not being paid have been long overdue, prompting the State to find a solution.
“There’s an initiative between COB, Treasury and CBK to get a process to merge all payments and requisitions to Internet banking details so that payment made is only on approved requisitions. It is not yet operational but it will be soon,” Nyakang’o said.
On his part, Gichuki faulted county bosses for paying partial payments and failing to complete the remaining amount.
“Most pending bills will be 30, 40 per cent, by the time I have a pending bill there’s an amount paid. When they don’t honor the final one does it mean the first payment was a fraud?” Gichuki paused.
As of March 31, the 47 county governments had accumulated Sh159.73 billion in pending bills.
Nairobi City County reported the highest f pending bills at Sh102.81 billion, Wajir at Sh5.38 billion, Kiambu at Sh5.33 billion, and Mombasa at Sh4.91 billion.
Others are Nandi (Sh1.28 billion), Mandera (Sh2.12 billion), Kisumu (Sh1.44 billion), Kilifi (Sh2.18 billion), Kajiado (Sh2.06 billion), Busia (Sh1.49 billion) and Nyandarua (Sh1.08 billion).