Laptop project: Tender for digital kit open to all

KENYA: The Government has clarified that no firm has been barred from participating in the ongoing tendering process for the supply of digital learning devices.

Information and Communication Technology Authority  (ICTA) Chief Executive Officer Victor Kyalo, yesterday said all persons, firms or institutions that have the capacity to deliver the devices are free to bid.

He said even companies, persons or institutions that participated in the previous botched tendering process were free to re-apply.

"There is absolutely no connection between this tendering process and the previous ones. This is totally new and different," said Mr Kyalo.

This means that the Indian firm Olive Telecommunications Pvt, the Chinese firm Haier Electricals Appliances Corporation Limited and Hewlett-Packard Limited from Europe (HP) can apply for the tender.

In the previous process, the tender award to Olive was cancelled after the Haier and HP contested the award before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board.

The matter is still in court.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i however, said the Government would take a very tough stand in the tendering process this time round.

He announced Friday that the Expression of Interest (EOI) had been floated but warned that "traders keen to derail the process" will be barred from doing business in Kenya.

Mr Matiang'i said "extra caution" had been taken in developing the Digital Learning Programme.

The EOI includes supply of teachers' devices, learners' digital devices, projectors and routers.

Local assembly or manufacturing is a mandatory requirement, according to the documents.

The application documents must be received on or before September 21, 2015, at 10am, reads the EOI.

ICTA has posted on its website the specifications of the gadgets to be delivered, with likely indications the Government will either procure laptops or tablets.