THE STANDARD ON SATURDAY
The much-awaited laptops for schools tender has been awarded, setting off the Jubilee coalition’s ambitious project promised during last year’s election campaigns. The plan to give all Standard One pupils a laptop, though still controversial, could spark a digital revolution and help Kenyans adapt to the new global way of communicating and working.
We only hope that the Ministry of Education is fully aware of the challenges facing the rollout and is ready to offer remedies. For instance, there are safety concerns and access to power for the gadgets to function properly.
There are also concerns that majority of teachers, especially in rural set-ups, do not have requisite knowledge to operate the gadgets. Have they been sensitised and convinced on the need for the project?
On another note, as with many Government projects, there are already murmurs of dissatisfaction with procurement of the laptops.
Members of Parliament have already accused the ministry of engaging in underhand deals. It is unfortunate that nearly all Government projects are shrouded in controversy.
Corruption claims are often made involving Government projects, including the multi-billion shilling Standard Gauge Railway. This is mainly because of the opaque tendering and presence of cartels in nearly all such projects. Indeed, rotten deals are often handed over from one regime to another.
When corruption is unearthed, some Government functionaries are quick to point fingers at the former regimes in a bid to escape responsibility. This should no longer be acceptable. Kenyans have heard that line of defence for too long.
We urge the Jubilee government to make a brave break from the past in procurement matters. The cartels always waiting in the wings to profit from public tenders must be told their time is up.
They have been accused of peddling lies and “insider information” to potential bidders and pocketing a huge cut. This way, Kenyan taxpayers pay so much for projects that could have otherwise cost less.
Shady tendering also leads to poor workmanship as the tender winners are known to do shoddy jobs to cut costs. This impunity is fuelled by the knowledge that they have the brokers’ blessings.
The taxpayers end up paying more for poorly managed projects, which in future require more money to fix. Parliament, the Cabinet and other stakeholders may need to look again at the Procurement Act and seal all loopholes used by these cartel-like brokers to infiltrate Government projects.
With the new constitutional dispensation, every Kenyan expects more open, fair and above board procurement.
Competitive bidding, independent and merit-based awarding of tenders must be encouraged at all levels.
The firms, individuals or countries doing business with the Kenya Government must also prove beyond doubt their ability to deliver. The tender committees must do due diligence and not a mere Internet search on potential companies to do business with Kenya.
The companies or individuals must also be highly reputable so that the Government is not embarrassed. Kenya should not be used as a guinea pig in the implementation of public projects.
On the same note, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and other watchdogs such as the Parliamentary Investment Committee must now prove their worth. They must expand capacity to investigate all claims of corruption and irregular tender awards.
This is more poignant with the formation of more commissions and the new 47 counties.
Already, several governors have been put on the spot over their use of public funds. Is the anti-graft body on top of all these claims? Swift action against guilty parties will deter corruption at the counties and other Government agencies.
