NAIROBI, KENYA: Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi Thursday came under fire from members of the National Assembly's Education committee, who now want him to take responsibility for the troubled Sh24 billion laptops project tender.
Members who spoke to The Standard faulted the CS for failing to heed advice from the committee and the Independent Procurement Oversight authority to cancel the tender, which has now been faulted.
"Had he had listened, we would not be where we are now. Children are now demoralised after the country spent a lot of resources trying to implement the project," said Mbooni MP Michael Kisoi.
"The High Court has done the right thing. The CS (pictured) was ill-advised and he should now tell Kenyans why he ignored advice from this committee. We are not against the project, but due process has to be followed. All officials who participated in the tendering exercise have questions to answer," Kaiti MP Richard Makenga said.
FRESH TENDERING
The MPs' fury derives from the CS's refusal to cancel the project even after the legislators raised questions on the awarding of the tender. Members of the committee had raised questions on the process, with claims that the winning company was merely a 'broker' and not an original manufacturer of laptops.
On Wednesday, the High Court appeared to vindicate the MPs' concerns when it annulled the tender that had been awarded to Olive Technologies of India.
The judges put the Education ministry on the spot for favouring the Indian entity and failing to disclose in the tender documents where the laptops were to be sourced.
Committee chairperson Sabina Chege could not be reached for comment as she is on sick leave, while her deputy Julius Melly (Konoin) is on a trip to the United States.
Molo MP Jacob Macharia said the committee will summon Kaimenyi to give an account of the entire process and prepare a report to be tabled before the National Assembly.
"The CS should take full responsibility for this mess. We shall hold an inquiry and present our report on why the ministry ignored our advice. We will call him to explain," he said. The Jubilee-allied MP however asked Kenyans to be patient as the project will still go on after fresh tendering takes place.
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