President Kenyatta has vowed to fight corruption starting with the high levels of government.
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 25 – The Government has now frozen tenders worth Sh286 billion after failure to use the new e-procurement system.
Sources in government said the graft purge dubbed ‘Operation Big Broom’ comes after several ministries failed to follow guidelines issued by the Treasury.
It also follows a warning issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta two weeks ago when he launched JKIA’s Terminal Two, that he will take action against Principal Secretaries who fail to shift to the Electronic Projects Monitoring System (e-ProMIS).
“When we say we must be on e-procurement we must be, I am following this up myself and if by next week you will not have integrated fully, there are other Kenyans who can have your position,” the President cautioned.
He emphasised the new procurement laws are aimed at enhancing transparency in government business.
Impeccable sources told Capital News on Monday that seven Principal Secretaries have been issued with warning letters and directed to strictly adhere to the new laws, or risk losing their jobs.
President Kenyatta has vowed to fight corruption starting with the high levels of government.
Two months ago, President Kenyatta ordered senior government officials among them five Cabinet Secretaries to step aside after they were named in the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission list of shame.
On Monday, the EACC recommended that Infrastructure and Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau and Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi be charged.
Kambi’s allegations stem from the irregular appointment of Andrew Gichamba Muigai and Veska Jepkemboi Kangongo as members of the NSSF Board.
Kamau ‘s charges relate to allegations that Kundan Singh Construction Company Limited, resident engineer and other public servants involved in the ongoing construction of Kamukuywa-Kaptama-Kapsokwony-Kimili Road colluded by trashing aside a consultant’s design without following the proper procedures and redesigning the road leading to massive embezzlement of funds.
The commission however ordered for the closure of the file against Lands, Housing and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary Ngilu for lack of evidence.
Ngilu was under investigation on allegations that she conspired with Evans Waitiki and valuers from her ministry to defraud the government of Sh110 million by overstating the value of a parcel of land in Mombasa earmarked for purchase by the government.
READ: EACC clears Ngilu, wants Kambi and Kamau charged
The fate of the Cabinet Secretaries set to be prosecuted is yet to be known.
Procurement of goods and services constitute about 50 percent of the government’s annual budget and the e-procurement platform will save substantial financial resources and help in instilling confidence among taxpayers that they are getting value for their money.
The system will strengthen the government-supplier relationship by providing easy access to information and documentation, simplify the bidding process and ensure cost saving for the Government and taxpayers.
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