Coast Regional Commissioner warns rogue contractors

Coast Regional Commissioner John Elungata. [Maarufu Mohamed/Standard]

Stern action will be taken against rogue contractors bidding for government tenders using fake documentation.

Coast Regional Commissioner (RC) John Elungata said that they will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute individuals involved in such malpractises.

''Let fraudsters involved be forwarned. Their days are numbered and we will not tolerate them,” he said.

The warning comes after Mombasa Huduma Centre reported intercepting fake documents by business people seeking various government tenders in the region.

Among the documentation required for pre-qualification of tenders include company registration documents, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) tax compliance certificate, company profile and lists and copies of previous contracts and assignment among others.

Elungata fired the warning when he chaired the regional development implementation coordination committee meeting attended by heads of departments and parastatals where the issue featured prominently.

Consequently, the RC urged the heads of departments and parastatal chiefs to thoroughly verify the authenticity of such documents before issuing tenders and processing payments.

Mr. Elungata has warned the committee members constituted following the executive order No1 of 2019 that absconding from the meetings held fortnightly to review status of government projects will not be entertained.

The administrator said he will not entertain the casual approach adopted by some departmental heads and parastatal chiefs to the meetings.

''These meetings discuss serious government business and takes precedence over other office activities therefore absconding and sending juniors will not be accepted going forward,'' he warned.

Meanwhile, Coast Regional Education coordinator, Mr Hassan Duale told the forum that the Digital Learning Programme was well on course in the region.

Duale said 1318 schools in the six counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Taita Taveta and Tana River have benefited from the digital learning technology.

The education official said the region received 79121 tablets, 2772 laptops, projectors 1385 and content server 1385.

He said 47 schools sating that ICT Authority has posted ICT officers to all the counties to manage the digital gadgets that seek to transform education and address challenges of access and quality.

 Duale said the project is beset by challenges such as the old curriculum, lack of power in some schools and transferring of teachers trained on the smooth ICT implementation.