False: KETRACO has not announced a tender for Mursik

Healthy mursik is being expertly prepared in Chirchir, Uasin Gishu County, in this photo taken on Wednesday, July 14, 2021. [Christopher Kipsang of Standard]

The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO) on Tuesday made social media headlines over a fake tender bid that went viral online.

In the circulated tender on May 9, the power transmission company was purported to have called for a bidder to supply Mursik, a traditional fermented milk popular among the Kalenjin community.

"KETRACO now invites tenders from interested and eligible firms to bid for the tenders given for supply and delivery of Mursik," the doctored advert read in part.

However, a fact-check by The Standard has identified the advert as doctored, and it has been confirmed that the genuine copy of the advert does not list Mursik among the tenders.

In a copy verified by KETRACO, the company had called for bidders for only four tenders, namely the supply and transmission of personal protective equipment, procurement of transmission line insulators for overhead lines maintenance works (listed as the first and second tenders, respectively).

The company also called for procurement for conductors for overhead lines maintenance works (listed as the last tender for the restoration of collapsed towers on Loiyangalani-Suswa transmission lines).

The four tenders marked the end of the list, as Mursik, which is the fifth tender in the doctored advert, was not listed.

"Tenders will be opened electronically promptly thereafter in the presence of the tenderers or their representatives who choose to attend in KETRACO Procurement Office at Kawi Complex, Block B, Second Floor," noted the Senior Manager of supply chain.

KETRACO, is a state corporation mandated to plan, design, construct, operate, own, and maintain high-voltage national electricity transmission grids and regional power interconnectors.