Senate gives Public Procurement Authority 7 days to verify Homa Bay records

The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget has instructed the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) to verify procurement records from the Homa Bay County Government within seven days. The order came after Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga testified before the committee to address procurement compliance concerns raised by the regulator.

PPRA is tasked with comparing documents provided by the county with information available on the Public Procurement Information Portal (PPIP). Committee Chairperson Ali Roba emphasized that senators would not accept the county's submissions at face value, stating that PPRA's verification and cross-verification of data are essential steps before accepting any information.

Homa Bay officials assured senators that procurement records had already been uploaded to the portal, reporting over 95% compliance. Governor Wanga reiterated her administration's commitment to procurement laws, transparency, and accountability. Committee Vice-Chairperson Tabitha Mutinda noted that some issues might have stemmed from administrative and communication delays between county officers and PPRA.

The committee also inquired about a pending court case concerning an unfulfilled contract payment. Wanga explained that the outstanding payment had been reviewed and reconciled before the contractor pursued legal action against the county. The Senate Finance Committee will await PPRA's verified report before determining any further course of action.