ACCOUNT MANAGER UNDER FIRE OVER KSH37 MILLION TENDER SCANDAL

Fafi Constituency NG-CDF Account Manager Omar Hassan is being grilled by lawmakers over awarding contracts irregularly worth over Ksh 37 million between 2013 and 2016. The Decentralised Funds Accounts Committee raised alarm over suspected procurement malpractices in managing the constituency’s development funds. Chaired by Mwingi Central MP Gideon Mulyingi, the Committee convened at Bunge Towers on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, to examine audit reports from the Office of the Auditor General covering the 2013/14 to 2022/23 financial years.

Lawmakers flagged several contracts awarded between 2013 and 2016 that failed to comply with procurement regulations. According to the Auditor General’s findings, contracts amounting to Ksh 14.18 million were irregularly issued during the 2013/2014 financial year. In 2014/2015, projects worth Ksh10.4 million were similarly procured without following the correct procedures. He emphasized that such practices violated procurement laws. In his defense, Maha attempted to shift responsibility to the Project Management Committees (PMCs), asserting that they handled procurement matters. However, MPs rejected this explanation pointing out that his actions breached public procurement regulations.

 Further irregularities were flagged for the 2015/2016 fiscal year, where contracts totaling Ksh 13.1 million were awarded without due process. Auditors noted the absence of crucial documents, including tender opening minutes, technical evaluation reports, inspection and acceptance committee reports, signed contracts, and completion certificates. Committee Chair Mulyingi demanded that Maha produce all relevant documentation including advertisements, evaluation reports, award letters, contracts, meeting minutes, and completion certificates for the four contested projects within seven days. MP Joyce Osogo Bensouda criticized Maha’s response, calling it unacceptable that he was blaming the irregularities on a lack of clear procurement guidelines at the time.