The Interior Ministry in a ‘pathetic and unpleasant’ manner might have lost Sh175 million while procuring police shoes, the Auditor General, Edward Ouko has said.
According to a report tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, the ministry approved the purchase of 26,500 pairs of shoes but records show that a supplier was indeed paid Sh267.9 million for 78,000 pairs of footwear.
“A physical check of the condition of shoes being used by the police across the country revealed a wanting situation as some officers use worn-out shoes while others have opted to buy shoes from various vendors, contrary to dress regulations for police officers,” Mr Ouko said.
The interior department officials when asked to explain the blown up figures, said that an additional 10,000 trainee officers made it necessary to procure more shoes.
The auditor general however found that 4,000 trainees were at the Kenya Police Training College in Kiganjo and 2,000 more at the General Service Unit.
There were however 4,000 trainees at the Administration Police Training College but their shoes paid for separately.
He also noted that 57 field units had asked for 12,852 pairs of shoes but only received 3,763 pairs.
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Motor Cycles
In the report that will be examined by the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, the auditor also notes that motorcycles were bought at a cost Sh866.2 million but were interestingly not in the ministry’s procurement plan.
The auditors say that 4,420 motorcycles were purchased but were overpriced and their contract, expired.
2,420 of the motorcycles were bought at Sh210,000 each leaving out a deal that could have seen one go for Sh161,733.
Auditors concluded that there was a loss of Sh116.8 million from the overpricing.
The report also indicates that the records in Nairobi were forged.
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