Governor Mandago hits out at Treasury

Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago has accused the National Treasury of usurping the role of Public Procurement and Oversight Authority (PPOA) by micro-managing the procurement process. [Standard]

Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago has called for amendment of procurement laws to allow direct procurement.

He accused the National Treasury of usurping the role of Public Procurement and Oversight Authority (PPOA) by micro-managing the procurement process.

Mandago said this hurts youths, women and people living with disabilities who miss out on business opportunities for lack of understanding of procurement laws.

Tenderprenuers, he added, have been exploiting young people by reaping where they never sowed.

“We should be allowed to conduct direct procurement from the locals doing the actual business but the National Treasury has become an impediment and is stifling everything,” said Mandago in Eldoret yesterday.

He went on: “The county is, for example, purchasing tree seedlings but since young people with tree nurseries did not bid for tenders, brokers and tenderprenuers are now purchasing the same from them (youth) at a throw away price and selling it to county government exorbitantly."

He asked the National Assembly to review the procurement laws and allow counties to carry out direct procurement.

“We want enabling legislation but not laws that are an impediment to creation of employment for young people. The National Treasury should cease from meddling with procurement processes,” he said.

He urged  legislators to amend the procurement laws so as to take care of the youth and people with disabilities.