Kajiado County Spends Sh2.5 Million on Mobile Phones

Kajiado Governor David Nkedianye was put on the spot by the Senate Public Accounts and Investment Committee for spending Sh2.5 million to purchase 24 phones for county officials.

The County bought Samsung Galaxy Note III phones for chief officers and County Executive Committee (CEC) members which retails at about Sh40,000.

The committee chaired by Kisumu Senator Anyang' Nyong'o grilled the Kajiado Governor for allowing the extravagant purchase which was against what the Auditor General had approved for the counties.

The task force further questioned why Nkadianye authorized the expenditure yet phones were personal effects that ought not to be acquired through public funds.

According to the Auditor General's report, the phones were bought at varying prices leaving suspicions on the exact amount spent on each gadgets. In the report, some of the cell phones were bought at Sh90,000 each while others cost Sh80,000.

The Senators asked Nkadianye whether the Public Finance Management regulations were followed, as there were no requisitions provided to support the need for the gadgets and also there was no indication as to who they would be allocated to.

In his defense however, the County Boss said that the procurement officer was in the best position to explain.

Kajiado joins the list of counties that have come under fierce criticism for spending public funds on projects considered inappropriate or unnecessary.

Read Also: Here Are the Most Extravagant Purchases by County Governments

Meru County was the recent in the list after the it purchased hospital curtains worth Sh7.8 Million for the County's General Hospital.

Almost a month ago, Kirinyaga County allegedly spent Sh1.2 Million on opening a Facebook account while Bungoma County spent Sh1.09 million to purchase 10 wheelbarrows.

In other instances, Nyamira County Government sparked an uproar after allocating Sh7.6 Million to the construction of a hospital gate.

Read Also: Kenyans Angered by Sh7.8 Million Meru County Curtains