Most of mega corruption scandals in Garissa County revolve around procurement issues, an EACC official has revealed.
EACC commissioner Mohammed Dabar now says that lack of qualified personnel familiar with procurement issues under Procurement Code of Ethics has greatly contributed to thriving corruption in the county government.
He says a good number of those working at the county are former workers from either non governmental organizations or the private sector who do not have enough experience on procurement.
“Most of these individuals in the county are from the private sectors and NGOs. They have no relevant knowledge on procurement issues and they occasionally violate the rules either knowingly or unknowingly,” he said.
To help weed out the rampant corruption cases threatening to bring county processes to a halt, the EACC official says county procurement officials should directly partner with the Public Procurement Authorities, the EACC and other experienced procurement officers in the national government to stream line the processes.
Mohamed, however, says corruption cannot be wiped out by the EACC alone but in conjunction with county bosses and the citizens alike.
“Fighting corruption is a collective responsibility of each and every Kenyan citizen. EACC banks on the collaboration and partnerships from the public, civil society rights groups, media and even public servants,” he said.
He dismissed reports that the anti-graft agency is targeting some particular quarters as stated by a section of a Garissa politicians.