Education committee demands cancellation of laptop tender

Some members of the Parliamentary Committee on Education in Mombasa

By NGUMBAO KITHI                      

MOMBASA, KENYA: It is now emerging that the company awarded the tender to supply the Sh24 billion laptop computers does not manufacture computers, and even lacks the capacity to supply the same.

The Parliamentary Committee on Education members Jacob Macharia and Michael Kisoi want the Government to stop the deal. They have demanded that officials of the Ministry of Education explain the details of the project.

“How did they arrive at a decision to give this company that lacks the necessary capability to handle this project the tender? Asked Macharia.

Speaking in Mombasa Saturday, Macharia said the company was not the official manufacturer of the laptop computers and only sold mobile telephones.

“We are asking the Government officials to explain to us who are the people behind this project,” he said.

“We know that Kenyans are looking at this project with a lot of interest. We cannot just pick any company to handle such a major project,” he said.

Mr Macharia said the Sh24 billion must not end up in the wrongs hands.

“We are ready to delay the project and make sure taxpayer’s money goes into the right hands,” he said.