Auditor-General Edward Ouko has raised queries over how the Nairobi County government spent Ksh6.3 million to purchase fireworks.
The report from the 2016/2017 financial year shows that the county government also applied a restricted tendering process in favour of the company supplying the fireworks products.
Although Nairobi County Cooperatives and Tourism Chief Officer Machira Gichohi could not explain the anomalies in the tendering process, he nevertheless defended the expenditure saying such celebrations make Nairobi more attractive to tourists.
"There will more fireworks this year to light up the entire city as a way of improving on our domestic and foreign tourism.
"We will light up the city to put it on a higher pedestal compared to other cities of the world like Sydney, Melbourne and even New York," Gichohi indicated despite the huge expenditure.
AG Ouko also indicated that vouchers lacked contract documents rendering the propriety of the expenditure dubious as it could not be confirmed.
"The [tender committee] meeting was done on December 22, 2016, during… while the local purchase order was done on December 18 and the payment was done on December 16. How is this even possible?" Kilimani MCA Moses Ogeto posed.
According to Ogeto, County Hall had already floated two companies with specific quantities in milligrams of the fireworks that were to be used prior to the initiation of the procurement process.
MCA's led by Wilfred Odalo (Mabatini) and June Ndegwa (nominated) indicated that the funds should have gone to more important projects including development and effective service delivery.
The County Assembly Public Accounts Committee resolved to summon all the tender committee officers who authorised the 2016 procurement.
Those set for grilling over the controversial fireworks tender include Luke Gatimu, George Wambua, Ms Ann Kiaruri, Ms Winnie Matimu, Dr Samuel Ochola, Dr Solomon Obielo, Patrick Mwangangi, John Obuk and Nyaduda Ambeka.
