Netizens have raised the alarm regarding a Kshs 273 million contract that was awarded last September for the services of garbage collection in the city centre.
The firm in question, Aende Group, was awarded the contract despite being registered last year in June. This goes against one of the recommendations that a company has to have at least one-year experience before qualifying for a tender and being evaluated by the committee.
Director of the firm, Mr Derrick Aende, revealed the information while appearing before the House Committee on Environment yesterday.
According to the tender requirements, firms had been informed that they had to have between one to five-year experience in dealing with waste collection as well as the transportation of waste.
According to one of the committee members, Silas Matara, the evaluation committee panel had shown the company had five years of experience.
Contrary to the fact that the company was registered in June of 2018, thus showing a clear indication that malpractices were observed during procurement!
Indeed, documents have affirmed that Aende Group was hired by City Hall on September 12 to dispose of city waste, empty litter bins, and sweep the streets.
Interestingly, Aende was able to beat three other firms to clinch the tender, including the likes of Creative Consolidated System which has been in the garbage collection business since 2013.
As a matter of fact, in 2014, The Kenya National Audit Office had raised questions over the alarming rise of tenders being awarded to firms that had not even been registered, while others had failed to even qualify!
Garbage collection has been a major issue of contention in the city, and was one of the major reasons for the rift between Governor Mike Sonko and former Deputy, Polycarp Igathe.