MPs plot Kaimenyi censure if President fails to take action

Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi.

By ROSELYNE OBALA

Nairobi, Kenya: Members of the Parliamentary Education Committee have demanded the sacking of Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi over the bungled Sh24.6 billion laptop tender.

The ten legislators in a statement read by Awendo MP Jared Opiyo said they would move a censure motion against the Cabinet Secretary if President Uhuru Kenyatta fails to fire him.

They recounted that they had raised serious concerns with regards to the procurement process of the computers.

But Prof Kaimenyi “hurriedly, arrogantly and without regard to the law” went ahead to award the tender, they said.

They took issue with the “level of arrogance” displayed by the CS while probing the tender process.

Among the issues of concern was that the company (Olive Telecommunications PVT limited) awarded the tender had a questionable background. The MPs doubted its capacity to supply the huge number of laptops.

The legislators also doubted if the Indian firm actually manufactures the laptops, which was a requirement of the tender document.

They further alleged that the company had inflated its tender bidding cost by Sh1.4 billion.

The MPs regretted that despite raising these queries on numerous occasions, the ministry bluntly refused to furnish them with the due diligence report that was conducted on the company.

Taking into account the conduct and behaviour of the CS in awarding the irregular tender, they petitioned President Kenyatta to immediately sack  Kaimenyi failure to which they would introduce a censure motion against him in Parliament.

“The board has vindicated the committee by factoring in our earlier concerns,” noted Opiyo.

Antony Mutahi (Laikipia East) alleged that the tender process was compromised to give the Indian firm an edge over her competitors.

Though Kaimenyi is on record affirming that Olive Telecommunications had quoted the lowest price, the MP pointed out that the inflated Sh1.4 billion could be used to improve other sectors of the economy.

“If Sh1.4 billion is divided among the 290 constituencies, each will get Sh5 million, which can be used to put up a secondary school,” he said.

Mutahi warned that for the Jubilee government to fulfil its pledges, State officers must perform as required.

During a press conference yesterday at Parliament Building, the lawmakers said Kaimenyi held the committee in contempt by giving false information regarding the award of the laptop tender.

Accompanied by legislators Ken Okoth (Kibra), Cecilia Ngetich (Bomet Woman Representative), Silverse Anami (Shinyalu), Nasra Ibrahim (Marsabit Woman Representative), Richard Makenga (Kaiti), Dorcas Kedogo (Vihiga Woman Representative), Michael Kisoi (Mbooni) and Wilberforce Otichilio (Emuhaya), they vowed to hold Kaimenyi accountable for the irregular process.

Always fumbling

Opiyo alleged that Kaimenyi had never taken the committee sittings seriously and always sent his Principal Secretary to represent him.

“The PS was always fumbling when put to task over the tender process. He never gave satisfactory answers on the due diligence queries raised,” claimed Mutahi.

The MP also took issue with the hurried training of computer teachers, alleging that millions of taxpayers’ money went to waste in the process.

“How can we train teachers for three days? Millions of shillings have been squandered in the process,” he said.

The lawmakers welcomed the cancellation of the tender awarded to the Indian firm by the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board.

“The CS misled and gave wrongful information to the committee. He declined to provide useful information to the committee with ulterior motive. We thank the board for saving billions of shillings of taxpayers’ money, which would otherwise have gone to waste,” said Opiyo.