Hapa kuna million zimeotewa

Mwalimu-G

Mwalimu-G

Elder Lister
IEBC warned against using expired gas cylinders
Saturday, July 23, 2022
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati.
Jeff Angote | Nation Media Group

By Moses Nyamori
Reporter
Nation Media Group
State agencies have warned the electoral commission against deploying 63,000 expired 3kg Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders during the August 9 polls.
The safety agencies, in correspondences with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), said using the cylinders pose great danger to poll officials and other stakeholders.
It emerged IEBC procured the cylinders in 2007 and has not revalidated them even as sources within the commission indicated that more than Sh200 million was earmarked for revalidating the cylinders.
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However, in a tender notice, seen by Nation.Africa, the electoral agency has since invited tenders for supplying and refilling 3kg gas cylinders.
"The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) invites sealed tenders for testing, supply, delivery and refilling of three (3) kgs gas cylinders on a three year framework contract," the notice dated June 3 reads in part.
Mandatory revalidation
Section 70(5) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007, requires that the cylinders for non-corrosive gases be examined and tested after every five years. The IEBC is said to have been using the same gas cylinders procured ahead of the 2007 General Election.
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The cylinders are used for emergency lighting in the event of power blackout and in areas with no electricity. They are usually used for a few hours during counting of the votes.
The Ministry of Labour, through its Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services, on July 6 wrote to the IEBC to consider revalidating the cylinders to avert possible risks and dangers. The letter by the directorate came after the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) raised concerns about the safety of the cylinders.
IEBC Preparedness
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The IEBC has yet to undertake the safety measures as directed by the agencies about two weeks to the polls, raising concerns over its general preparedness.
IEBC chief executive officer Marjan Hussein Marjan did not respond to our queries on the matter even as Kebs and the Labour ministry affirmed their concerns over the planned deployment of the cylinders.
The cylinders are to be used in 46,233 polling stations across the country.
The directorate said LPG gas expands about 270 times by volume and is highly flammable, making it very dangerous if not contained safely. The law obligates the owner of a cylinder to cause revalidation to ensure safety of workers and users.
“The purpose of this letter is to request your immediate attention on this matter and ensure each cylinder in your use undergoes immediate thorough examination and testing in accordance with Section 70(5) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act to safeguard users and persons who may come into vicinity of the cylinders,” said Dr Andrew Muruka, director of Occupational Safety and Health Services.
The storm over the cylinders was triggered by Kebs Managing Director Benard Njiraini, who through a letter dated June 29, told the directorate’s secretary Musa Nyandusi to initiate inquiry into the matter following complaints by the Consumer Oversight Authority. Mr Njiraini yesterday told the Nation that Kebs executed its mandate by calling for necessary action.
 
Meria said:
Chebukati has been asleep
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No, a sense of urgency has to be created. Whichever company will be hired hakutakuwa na procurement rules, interns watatumwa, record serial nos., a few photos, wanaume wagawane 200 mike. Chebukati ana sort retirement yake.
Mwalimu-G said:
The storm over the cylinders was triggered by Kebs Managing Director Benard Njiraini, who through a letter dated June 29, told the directorate’s secretary Musa Nyandusi to initiate inquiry into the matter following complaints by the Consumer Oversight Authority.
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The players
 
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zapp_brannigan said:
Those responsible in checking and recharging equipment don't do their work . Unapata after election no one routinely checks the equipment ata kama ni quarterly.
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I think it's our nature once you get into government, nobody cares. that's why most government facilities look like a scene from a zombie movie. Unapata drawer inavunjika, instead of calling for repairs, they resort to wait till they'll buy a new desk.

The other day DCI were boastful vile they repaired some vehicles for re-use ,Kwanza wanasema vile some required very minor repairs yet the norm has been to request for new vehicles. Obvious things like repairs look like serious achievements. Nasi ati pesa ya repairs hakuna. Only in private sectors are folks responsible but mtu akishaingia gava , shida tupu.
 
wrongturn said:
Si wanunue rechargeable torches from shinaman ? hata za solar? since they're only for back up , sikuhuzi we have very powerful affordable torches.
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Hapa ile hesabu imepigwa wacha tu. A new 3 kg Total cylinder with gas is 2310. If you throw in the lamp maybe 3000. If they bought one for each of the 46000 polling stations it comes to 138m Acholi cows.

The want to test the old ones (and find them usable!) for 200m.
 
wrongturn said:
I think it's our nature once you get into government, nobody cares. that's why most government facilities look like a scene from a zombie movie. Unapata drawer inavunjika, instead of calling for repairs, they resort to wait till they'll buy a new desk.

The other day DCI were boastful vile they repaired some vehicles for re-use ,Kwanza wanasema vile some required very minor repairs yet the norm has been to request for new vehicles. Obvious things like repairs look like serious achievements. Nasi ati pesa ya repairs hakuna. Only in private sectors are folks responsible but mtu akishaingia gava , shida tupu.
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Start closer home. When was the apartment next door last thoroughly cleaned? Lastly repainted?
 
wrongturn said:
Unapata drawer inavunjika, instead of calling for repairs, they resort to wait till they'll buy a new desk.
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A lot of times it is not that easy. National govt departments receive a piece of paper (called an Authority to Incur Expenditure- AIE) that comes with itemized expenditure lines - pesa ya stima, maji, stationery, airtime/bundles, fuel, repair za gari na furniture etc. Mara nyingi head office never asks the field office where they need the money, they just allocate some arbitrary sums here and there. You cannot use electricity money to buy stationery hata kama huna karatasi ya kuandikia barua. So the desk will remain unrepaired because the PS did not give the field officer money for furniture repairs.
 
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