The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Friday rolled out an examination of the Consolidated Procurement of ICT Equipment and Services processes under the Ministry of ICT.
The exercise is expected to take 19 working days, with the Ethics report expected to contain findings and recommendations arising from the examination into the systems, policies, procedures and and practices in the operations and procurement of ICT equipment’s and services.
Speaking today during the launch of the exercise at the Ministry’s Telposta headquarters, ICT Principal Secretary (PS), Jerome Ochieng stated that the government centralized procurement for all Information Communication Technology supplies for all ministries and parastatals.
Jerome said that this has helped the government to leverage on the economies of scale, monitor the quality of equipment’s and services procured as well as reduce risks of security breach.
The PS reiterated the ministry’s support and commitment to the exercise and promised the commission to release any necessary information that the team conducting the examination will need so as to make proper recommendations that would be beneficial to the ministry.
“As the Accounting Officer of the ministry I assure you of my support as well as my officers’ full cooperation with your officers so as to find mechanisms of preventing any corruption loophole that may erupt in any process, and we believe that the report will guide us on how to make the systems even better,” said the PS.
The EACC Chief Executive Officer, Twalib Abdallah Mbarak said that the examination will be carried out by a team of officers from the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission through Directorate of Preventive Services (DPS).
He noted that the purpose of the examination will be to identify corruption loopholes in the procurement processes and to make recommendations on how to seal the identified corruption loopholes.
In a statement read on his behalf by EACC Ethics and Leadership Director, Lucy Kinuthia, Mbarak said that the Examination Team will gather information through formal and informal interviews with senior officers of the ministry.
Mbarak noted that it is their mandate as per the constitution to advise on any matter as well as monitor practices of public bodies.
“As public institutions, there is need for good governance in our procurement services. DPS promote standardization as well as quality that makes services to the citizens effective,” said Mbarak in his statement.
By Alice Gworo
