Njoro NG-CDF under scrutiny for alleged procurement irregularities

Njoro Constituency National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) office is facing yet another legal battle over procurement irregularities.

The fund office has been sued for allegedly illegally awarding a tender to the Rift Valley National Polytechnic (RVNP) to provide short courses to youth in the sub-county sponsored by the Njoro NG-CDF.

The petition filed in the Nakuru High Court by resident Daniel Kimani Gitau alleges that the office launched a short course funding programme in Njoro constituency, offering to sponsor residents interested in taking driving courses.

Mr Gitau alleges that the tender was awarded to the RVNP without public participation or competitive bidding.

According to the petitioner, the programme was not advertised to allow other interested parties to submit their bids.

"The respondent proceeded to award the tender for the implementation of the programme to Rift Valley National Polytechnic without any public participation and in contravention of the Constitution and procurement laws to the detriment of interested parties," Mr Kimani said.

Mr Kimani questioned why the office awarded the tender to the polytechnic, which offered the courses at a higher price of Sh18,000 compared to other institutions.

He also claimed that the polytechnic was not located within the boundaries of Njoro Constituency, contrary to the provisions of the NG-CDF Act.

Mr Kimani also told the court that the Union of Driving Schools in Njoro wrote to the fund's office seeking information on the tendering process, but was told that the process did not require such a process.

He now claims that the fund wants to implement the programme to fund the driving school course without following due process in procuring the services of the institution that is to provide it.

He now wants the NG-CDF to be restrained from using the funds earmarked for the courses or disbursing the funds to the polytechnic until the case is heard and determined.

The Njoro Constituency NG-CDF chairperson, the procurement officer and the fund's account manager were named as respondents, while the Njoro Driving Schools Association was listed as an interested party.

Justice Patricia Gichohi slated the matter for mention on May 19 to give directions on the same.