The Nairobi County government is on the spot over the expenditure of Sh6.3 million on fireworks for 2017 New Year celebrations.
The millions were allegedly spent for the 10-minute event meant to entertain Nairobi residents and tourists as they ushered in the new year.
This expenditure is among the audit questions raised in an audit report for the 2016/2017 financial year compiled by the Auditor-General Edward Ouko.
In the report, Ouko also points out that the City Hall violated the Public Procurement and Disposal Act by applying a restricted tendering process to favor the firm that supplied the fireworks.
He also notes that the vouchers used to pay for the fireworks lacked contract documents as required by the law.
Appearing before the County Assembly Public Accounts Committee, Nairobi County Tourism Chief Officer Machira Gichohi defended the expenditure on the fireworks, stating that such celebrations make the Kenyan capital more attractive to tourists.
He, however, could not explain the anomalies in the tendering and payment processes.
Gichohi reveals that the county is even planning to spend more on fireworks display this year.
“There will more fireworks this year to light up the entire city as a way of improving on our domestic and foreign tourism.”
” We will light up the city to put it on a higher pedestal compared to other cities of the world like Sydney, Melbourne and even New York,” says Gichohi.
