Bill Gates' foundation warns of bogus tenders

Bill Gates.

An American foundation has warned of criminals using its names to defraud the public.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has distanced itself from a tender published in a local daily seeking suppliers of consumable goods.

The foundation has warned the public from participating in the tender purported to have originated from its Nairobi office, which does not exist.

It said it does not have an office in Kenya.

In a statement published on its website, the humanitarian foundation warned that the tenders were a scam.

The public has been asked to report to the police any suspicious transactions said to have originated from the foundation.

The advert seemed to target manufactures and distributors of consumable goods such as maize flour, rice and table salt.

Applicants were required to pay a tender fee of Sh4,100 for every category they tendered for.