A report by the Kisii County’s Justice and Legal Affairs committee has recommended an audit into a flawed health scheme for the county MCAs.
The audit is aimed at recovering more than Sh9.5 million paid to an insurance Company.
The report- Inquiry into the Members of the County Assembly on Medical Insurance Cover- tabled in the county assembly on Wednesday and passed on Thursday, recommended, Ethics and Anti-Corruption agency to carry out investigations.
Some of the senior officials that the report indicated should be investigated include County Assembly clerk, James Nyaoga.
The committee headed by Koina Onyancha reads plain mischief in the scheme, which has snow balled a major swindle in the history of the county.
The committee also wants to know how the insurance firm and an agent, Merve Insurance Limited, is seeking a Sh1.4 million claim from the county assembly in addition to the Sh9.5 million payment that had been paid to the insurance body.
The committee was in February tasked by the Country Assembly to investigate the health scheme which had gone awry.
The report recommended that the two insurance bodies in the tender row should be blacklisted from seeking any tender with the county government.
“We recommend the two insurance entities to be blacklisted from conducting any business with the Kisii Country Government,” notes part of the report.
Ben Mogaka, Merve Insurance Agent director, however says they are the one who need to be paid by the Kisii County Assembly for defaulting payment as agreed in the contract.
“Some members of the county assembly had already benefited from the health scheme and there could be no refund. Instead, he wants the county government to top up the remaining amount towards the health insurance scheme,” said Mogaka.
He said they were exploring options of going to court to ensure the county assembly meets part of the bargain.
"We may be compelled to go to court because they are not meeting part of their bargain in the contract,” said Mogaka.
The report tabled in the Country Assembly on Wednesday generated furious reactions from the members.
However, the press was locked out of the gallery while the debate was going on.
“We recommend that disciplinary action be taken to dismiss the clerk, director of finance and senior accountant involved in the saga,” says the report.
The committee further wants to know why the insurance company is claiming some debt from the county assembly amounting to Sh1.4 million and a further Sh 7.5 million top up on the health insurance tender which had been tendered for Sh17.5 million.
Risper Ongeri, a member of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, however defended the scheme saying it was awarded in the right way and that some members had already benefited from it.