Economy

Speed gadget tender row goes to court

road

Thika Superhighway. file photo | nmg

A row over the tender award of a gadget introduced to check and record speed for vehicles on the Kenyan roads has spilled over to the courts.

In a suit filed by Fedha Electronics Ltd, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board have been dragged to court for awarding Flex Communications Ltd the tender for the supply of the Universal Policing Unit system.

Through Lawyer Nyakundi Kiage, Fedha accused the board and the NTSA of refusing to consider its request for review of the award.

The board had on July 4 declined to have the tender decision reviewed despite claims that it was shrouded in secrecy and was single-sourced contrary to the Public and Asset Disposal Act 2015.

In the case documents, Fedha claimed the whole procurement process was a sham as the tender was predetermined and that adverts on NTSA’s website about it were not sufficient.

The firm alleged that the company awarded the tender intends to introduce a software that will lock out stakeholders involved in developing the UPU system from supplying the hardware.

“If a stay of that decision of the review board is not granted, NTSA will proceed to single source which will render this matter nugatory and a mere academic exercise,” said Mr Kiage.

Fedha says there are several firms which can provide the UPU used to check the functionality of the speed limiters on the roads as a way of monitoring drivers to curb accidents.