CS Mbadi Rejects World Bank Link in E-Procurement, Calls Manual System ‘Archaic’
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has dismissed claims that the World Bank was behind the electronic procurement system, saying the system was acquired and implemented by the Kenyan government in partnership with an Indian firm.
Speaking before the National Assembly’s Committee on Implementation of the Constitution on Thursday, Mbadi said the e-procurement platform was purchased in 2022 at a cost of Ksh387 million to replace the manual process which he said had long been breeding corruption.
“The manual procurement system is old, outdated and wasteful,” Mbadi said, “this is an anti-graft tool.”
Despite his defence, MPs raised concerns over the speed of implementation. Some MPs said the National Treasury was rushing the rollout and wanted both manual and electronic systems to run concurrently as the government builds capacity across ministries and agencies.
“CS Mbadi why is the Treasury insisting that all procurement processes must be done through this system when the law provides for both manual and electronic system?” asked Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje.
Mbadi replied that the law allows for either system but the government had chosen electronic procurement as the best tool against corruption and mismanagement of public resources.
“We have not created a new law. We are implementing the existing law. When the law gives you either-or you choose the best,” he told the committee.
The Treasury CS also warned that the Ruto administration was operating under a tight fiscal space with no room to raise taxes. He said eliminating loopholes in public procurement was key to fiscal discipline.
“We must seal all loopholes for pilferage of public resources, key among them public procurement if we are to meet our obligations,” Mbadi reiterated.
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CS Mbadi Rejects World Bank Link in E-Procurement, Calls Manual System ‘Archaic’