Big State firms defy Uhuru tenders order, but listings rise 20pc
Deputy President William Ruto. FILE PHOTO | NMG
What you need to know:
- The online portal, which was established last July, listed 10,937 tenders worth Sh80.21 billion as at Tuesday.
The number of tenders published online by State corporations and agencies in line with a presidential directive has increased by 20 per cent in a fortnight after Deputy President William Ruto warned of stiff sanctions on non-compliant firms.
The online portal, which was established last July, listed 10,937 tenders worth Sh80.21 billion that were awarded to 5,937 registered suppliers as at Tuesday, a spot-check by the Business Daily revealed.
The check, however, shows that most agencies controlling multibillion-shilling State contracts continue to defy President Uhuru Kenyatta’s June order and that of his deputy to publicly release details of the tenders through the designated public procurement website to curb graft.
The latest figures represent a jump of 1,901 new listings compared to the 9,036 tenders that had been listed on January 28 arising from 1,981 contracts worth Sh66.66 billion.
Dr Ruto, on January 28, directed the Treasury to submit a list of all public institutions that have defied the government order on tenders disclosure to the Head of Public Service within 30 days.
He said that all public entities that do not publish information on beneficiaries of government tenders would face sanctions including freezing or scaling down budgetary allocation.
The publication of the tenders would allow the public to scrutinise the deals, including the quality and amounts of goods and services bought as well as the cost and identity of suppliers.
Information on the portal should include the basis of awarding tenders, parameters of assessment, names and details of tender committee members, bidders as well as the value of each contract.
Mid last year Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua asked accounting officers in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to consolidate and publish tender information on the 15th of every month.
Mr Kinyua said information on the portal should include the basis of awarding the tenders, parameters of assessment, names and details of tender committee members as well as the value of each contract.
