Lands ministry defends the need for typewriters

What you need to know:

  • A source in the ministry said that the typewriters would be sent to remote areas, where there is no electricity connection, adding that they would come in handy
  • The officer said the typewriters, of which the ministry’s supplies section had tendered for 25 units, would be supplied to government departments and officers on a needs basis

The Lands ministry was on Thursday at pains to explain why it had made a requisition for typewriters and duplicators, which seem antiquated in the new digital era.

The placement of a tender for the obsolete items in the media attracted a barrage of criticism on social media sites over the irony of a government ministry purchasing typewriters for the Jubilee administration that came into power on a digital platform. (READ: Curious call for supply of typewriters)

On Thursday, a source in the ministry said that the typewriters would be sent to remote areas, where there is no electricity connection, adding that they would come in handy.

“There are counties where there is no electricity and only manual typewriters and duplicators can operate in government offices,” said an officer in the ministry who requested anonymity.

BYGONE ERA

The typewriters are completely manual and require no electricity. They remind most Kenyans of a bygone era, before the advent of computers.

The officer said the typewriters, of which the ministry’s supplies section had tendered for 25 units, would be supplied to government departments and officers on a needs basis.

The rest of the government, he said, does not require the items as it was moving fast on the digital path.

The tenders — of which 30 per cent are specifically set aside for youth, women and the disabled — are mandated to source and list suppliers for common user items for all government entities at the national and county levels.

Eligible bidders are invited to supply the items to government ministries and departments in the 47 counties for one year.

They are also expected to source their supplies locally.

Other needed supplies include foodstuff, camping equipment, timber and bicycles.