Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi at past function. [Photo/ zipo.co.ke]
Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi appeared before the Senate Public Accounts and Investments Committee on Thursday over irregularities in awarding of tenders in the county.The Governor, who will be defending his seat in August, was asked to shed more light on a move by his government to award a tender to one of the eleven controversial companies in relation to the supply of special goods to the county.In his defense, Kingi said one of the companies was awarded the tender to supply the said items after eleven companies were shortlisted for the same.The auditors, however, argued that the company Kingi’s government had awarded the tender was not among the eleven suppliers.Kingi, a close ally of Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, maintained that the process was undertaken procedurally, adding that he has evidence to prove the same.Prof Lonyangapuo the Senator for West Pokot, a member of the committee, asked Kingi and the auditors’ team to provide the necessary documents pending investigations into the matter.“The county says the tender was awarded to one of the 11, the auditors says the tender was awarded to a company outside 11,” he said, as quoted by Baraka FM.The governor is expected to appear before the committee on May 19.