E-Clips:- Business Pictorial - Govt Halts Sh2.7b Passports Tender

THE Government has halted the controversial Sh2.7 billion tender for passport issuing equipment to the Immigration Department. National Security minister Chris Murungaru told Parliament that the contract had been put on hold until investigations of alleged impropriety are completed. He said the investigations would be completed this week and the findings made public from next Tuesday.

Dr Murungaru said the Government will ensure that no money is lost to any of the parties involved in the tender. He said the Government had entered into contractual agreement with various parties and urged Kenyans to allow the ongoing inquiry to be completed. He was replying to a demand for a ministerial statement by Leader of Official Opposition Uhuru Kenyatta on the Government’s commitment in the fight against corruption. He wanted the tender halted, investigations completed and Sh91 million already paid as down payment recovered.

Kenyatta also wanted a report by Permanent Secretary for Ethics and Governance John Githongo on the tender made public. He said the Government cannot afford losing money is a scam when teachers and civil servants were waiting for better salaries.

Dr Murungaru said the Government was committed to the fight against graft. Amidst loud murmurs from the Government and Opposition benches, the minister quoted an African saying that “a thief always thinks that everybody else is a thief.” He said the inquiry was going on and rejected suggestions by MPs that all those involved in the tender deal be urged to step aside to ensure free and fair investigations. He said the probe by Githongo was thorough, adding that there were no suspects.

Shadow Finance minister Kerrow Billow wondered why the Government was selectively conducting the investigations. Kenyatta said the matter was serious and that Kenyans could not wait for a report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) next year. He said the tender was an acid test for the Narc Government in its lacklustre crusade against corruption. The Opposition boss said the tender had the potential of being another Goldenberg scam.

Speaker Francis ole Kaparo said when the matter was first raised in Parliament by Maoka Maore (Ntonyiri Kanu), the PAC demanded that the Controller and Auditor General should provide a special report on the issue. He said the Auditor General will make a report on the tender available to the Ministry for Finance for comment this week before it is availed to the PAC on Tuesday. MPs have in recent weeks questioned the Government’s decision to grant the tender to a private company through single sourcing.