Nairobi governor Dr Evans Kidero (in glasses) at past rally with fellow politicians. [Photo: Courtesy]Below is a statement by Nairobi Jubilee candidate governorship aspirant senator Mike Sonko, accusing his rival, governor Dr Evans Kidero of looting Sh1 billion through digital county payment system."How Kidero has swindled 1 billion from City Hall coffers through Jambo PayOne of the key reasons why City residents should vote out Governor Evans Kidero is that he has presided over the looting and fleecing of City Residents.At least shs 1 billion has been lost through Jambo Pay since he assumed office in 2013.Jambo Pay is the company that collects revenue electronically on behalf of the county.It collects parking fee via mobile phone, unified business permit fee, rates and other fees.In October 2015, Auditor General Edward Ouko recommended that the Nairobi County Government cancels a contract for an electronic revenue collection system.The system was set up by Webtribe which owns Jambo Pay whose selection criteria the Auditor-General faulted.Citing numerous missteps in the procurement process, Auditor-General Edward Ouko concluded that 4.5 per cent of all transactions retained by JamboPay were too high compared to what the Kenya Revenue Authority chargesHe found that two other bidders, Virtual Mobile and Craft Silicon, had bid to charge 2.5 per cent of the transaction costs, but were not considered.Ouko then said that a review of the cost-impact using the actual revenues for the 2012/2013 financial year, established that the county government will spend Sh767.4 million in the five years the contract is supposed to run.The county was found to have refused to award the contract to firms that were proposing much lower transaction costs than JamboPay, whose parent company is Web Tribe Ltd.He said the county’s management under Kidero should revoke the contract with Web Tribe and carry out a proper study of its revenue streams.He asked the Kidero administration to develop a system that has adequate inbuilt controls that will protect the public good.However, Kidero has remained defiant.All these were put in the Auditors report that was tabled in Parliament in July.Rumors have it that Jambo Pay CEO Danson Muchemi carried shs 10 million to Muthaiga Golf Club which he bribed Kidero with and thus he was given the contract.Muchemi has always defended the contract, bribing the mainstream media not to report any negative issues touching on Jambo Pay.Muchemi has in the past been quoted saying that he won the contract fairly.According o the Auditor General, Web Tribe Ltd was awarded the tender at Sh23.2 million, with the firm keeping 4.5 per cent of all revenue collected through JamboPay.However, the Auditors documents show there are two existing contracts, one with 4.5 percent and one with 1.25 per cent.It’s said that the 4.5 contract is the one being used and Kidero gets 2 percent of all revenue collected and Jambo Pay 2.5 percent.This is how Kidero has managed to fleece the County through Jambo.Kidero brought in Jambo Pay after he canceled the tender of Hausraum Limited which had been contacted to offer e-payment services by the defunct Nairobi City Council."

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