Kindiki: No retreat, no surrender on e-procurement

The DP said rolling out of e-procurement at both national and county governments will not be reversed, affirming the Ruto administration’s unwavering determination to ensure the system’s successful implementation.

While appreciating the teething challenges in the formative stages of implementation, he stated that this will not be an excuse to revert to previous platforms prone to manipulation.

“E-procurement increases accountability and transparency in the use of public resources. We must overcome the challenges and implement e-procurement fully because we will not revert to the manual procurement system whatsoever,” he said.

The Deputy President spoke on Thursday during the 13th Development Partnership Forum at the Official Residence in Karen, Nairobi.

Similarly, the DP said the use of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) for national and county governments funds aimed to get rid of misuse of public resources by unscrupulous individuals who had developed the habit of depositing them in commercial banks to earn interests that was unaccounted for.

“These are important reforms we are pushing in the finance sector. The Treasury single account is important because the Government of Kenya’s resources must be kept at the Central Bank. Many agencies have been keeping public resources in commercial banks earning interest which is not accounted for,” DP reiterated.  

Last year, the Cabinet approved the reforms tasking the National Treasury to oversee their implementation to the letter.

The Cabinet decision was informed by the need to simplify government banking, creating visibility of government resources, increasing transparency in cash management and minimizing operation of several accounts in commercial banks.

“We will not go back on them. No retreat, no surrender. No amount of push back will make us review these policy decisions approved by the Cabinet,” Prof. Kindiki noted.  

The Forum was attended by senior representatives of various development partners, respective Cabinet Secretaries and members of constitutional commissions and offices.

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said he will not waver in spearheading e-procurement and use of a single account despite opposition from some quarters.

“I committed to bring e-procurement to the government. I have issued a circular to all government officers to procure through e-procurement and that position remains until the Cabinet revokes it,” he noted.