Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda has suspended the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) office on suspicion of massive corruption.
The MP noted that cartels have positioned themselves in it and colluded with staff to influence development projects in the constituency.
“I have reported the matter to police and some are already in custody. I have also directed staff to report to the CID office [at Bondo police station]
from
Tuesday," he told the Star by phone on Monday.
"They will not be part
of the office until a thorough criminal investigation and court processes are completed."
Ochanda added that
unscrupulous contractors have been giving his employees bribes to avoid procurement procedures, thereby denying genuine ones opportunities to carry out constituency projects.
“Certain staff have registered companies and have been awarding themselves tenders," he said.
"They have perfected the art of obtaining bribes from contractors in order to get tender awards. This they do by leaking the Bill of Quantities to their preferred contractors, an action that is against the law."
The MP said he had to halt the work of a contractor at
Ugadhi Primary School as tendering had not been done.
Ochanda further accused the CDF office of mishandling the bursary fund. He said he had received many complaints and discovered gross misconduct in processes.
“The staff in the CDF office have altered the names of bursary beneficiaries who were vetted and replaced them. This is totally unacceptable. They have introduced a new list of beneficiaries who had not even applied for bursaries," he said.
He asked the people to be patient as investigations are carried out and solutions sought.