MBADI STANDS FIRM ON E-PROCUREMENT, DESPITE MPS GRILLING

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has vowed to press ahead with the rollout of the government’s electronic procurement platform despite sharp criticism from MPs and an ongoing court suspension of the system’s mandatory use.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, Mbadi said e-procurement remains central to President William Ruto’s plan to enhance transparency and curb graft in public spending. He cited the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, the Public Finance Management Act and constitutional provisions as the legal basis for the transition, arguing that manual procurement is more prone to abuse.
Lawmakers, led by MPs Mark Mwenje and Kakai Bisau, urged a phased rollout, warning that many procuring entities lack the skills and infrastructure to adopt the system immediately. They also questioned why Treasury has not sought formal amendments to embed mandatory electronic procurement in law.
Mbadi disclosed that more than 14,000 officers have been trained and 1,379 public entities registered on the platform, with over 10,000 suppliers integrated. He said some agencies such as Kenya Pipeline and KenGen, which run their own platforms, may be exempt, and that delayed projects under NG-CDF and NGAAF will also get temporary reprieve.
Despite a High Court order suspending compulsory use of the platform and a parliamentary resolution annulling a Treasury circular, Mbadi maintained the government will continue rolling out the system, insisting it is both legal and necessary to seal corruption loopholes.