Suppliers and contractors doing business with the government have been urged to embrace the new e-procurement system as part of sweeping reforms aimed at curbing corruption within public procurement.
The digital platform is designed to seal loopholes that have long enabled manipulation of tender processes, eliminate middlemen who demand kickbacks and enhance transparency in the award of contracts.
Wilfred Siakama, an official from National Treasury Government Electronic Procurement System (eGP) said that the shift to an online system will create a clear audit trail for every transaction from tender advertisement and bid submission to evaluation and payment reducing human interference and increasing accountability.
Siakama spoke this at Mabanga Agricultural Training College in Bungoma on Thursday, February 26 during the public participation forums to sensitize suppliers and contractors how the system works.
He maintained that automating procurement services will not only deter fraud and collusion but also ensure fair competition, faster processing of contracts and value for taxpayers’ money.
“The reforms form part of a broader strategy to modernise public service delivery, restore public confidence in state institutions and promote integrity in the management of public resources,” he noted.
He observed that among the topics covered during the public participation; supplier registration, bid preparation and contract management.
“We have partnered with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce (KNCC) because they close to suppliers,” he said.
He affirmed that the purpose of the sensitisation forum across the country is to make suppliers make better understanding of the government electronic procurement system.
“We want to make Kenya a digital country by reducing the manual operations, from paper work to a digital world where you can be able to do bid preparation and e-contract management for an accountable system,” he said.
He revealed that similar exercises are ongoing in Kajiado, Busia and Laikipia, adding that over 36,000 suppliers and contractors have already registered on the platform.
“After Bungoma County we are going to conduct similar sessions in Kakamega and Vihiga counties,” he said.
John Max Wafula, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairperson for Bungoma County, noted that many suppliers and contractors remain hesitant to fully embrace the e-procurement platform, noting that significant number fear logging onto the system, with some wrongly assuming that the government intends to use the platform primarily to monitor their tax compliance rather than streamline procurement processes.
Wafula explained that this misconception has slowed the uptake of the digital system, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises that are not yet fully conversant with online government services.
He emphasised the need for civic education and stakeholder sensitization to assure traders that the platform is meant to enhance transparency, fairness and efficiency in the award of tenders not to intimidate or unfairly target businesses.
He urged contractors and suppliers to view the digital shift as an opportunity to compete on a level playing field, noting that the automation of procurement processes will ultimately protect legitimate businesses from exploitation by brokers and cartels that have historically manipulated the system.
Gilbert Kapchanga, a supplier, said for long they have faced many challenges in terms of brokers stating that the digital platform intents to solve the challenge.
