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Kaimenyi: I’m going nowhere despite laptops mess

Speaking at a media conference on Thursday, the CS said he does not harbour any guilt over the tender and would only agree to be removed from office through a parliamentary process, in accordance with the Constitution/MIKE KARIUKI

Speaking at a media conference on Thursday, the CS said he does not harbour any guilt over the tender and would only agree to be removed from office through a parliamentary process, in accordance with the Constitution/MIKE KARIUKI

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 13 – Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi says he will not resign over the cancelled Sh24.6 billion laptop tender award to Olive Telecommunications, despite admitting the process had hitches.

Speaking at a media conference on Thursday, the Kaimenyi said he does not harbour any guilt over the tender and would only agree to be removed from office through a parliamentary process, in accordance with the Constitution.

“You can only resign – at least that is my opinion – if you prick your conscience; if you do self re-examination and feel that you are guilty. But when I do my self evaluation, when I prick my self conscience, I can tell you with absolute certainty that I don’t see any justification for resigning because I am wrong… wrong about what?” he defended himself.

In reference to the Sh1.4 billion quoted higher than the tender threshold, Kaimenyi said the ministerial tender committee may have misled him and investigations will be done and action taken against any culpable officer.

“We will review this process for sure and find out about those things that might have not fared properly. And if indeed there is evidence of any mistake, obviously, appropriate action will be taken against those people who will be held responsible,” Kaimenyi said sternly.

He said he will now heed an order by the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board and follow due diligence in reviewing the bids for HP and Haier Electrical Appliances within the stipulated 45 days.

“As I said we did our best but every day in our lives we learn and must learn. Somebody said, never fear to make mistakes otherwise you deny yourself the right to learn. We will do a post-mortem, if there are things to improve, why not,” the CS told journalists.

A Cabinet Secretary can be removed from office if a member of the National Assembly, supported by at least one-quarter of all the members of the Assembly, proposes a motion requiring the President to dismiss them on grounds of a gross violation of a provision of the Constitution or of any other law.

They can also be removed from office if there are serious reasons for believing that the Cabinet Secretary has committed a crime under national or international law; or for gross misconduct.

During the news conference, Kaimenyi kept on contradicting himself by insisting that the ministry followed due diligence in awarding Olive Telecommunications the tender despite the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board highlighting irregularities when cancelling the tender.

The Board on Tuesday termed the tender as illegal, after it was observed that apart from Olive Telecommunications quoting Sh1.4billion higher, it also lacked the financial capability to implement the project.
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