The rich take up tenders for women, youth

The Sh37.9 billion worth of State tenders reserved youth, women and the disabled in the six months to December 2016 was less than legal cap of 30 per cent of contracts.

This amounted to 18.17 per cent of the half-year procurement budget of Sh208.3 billion, says the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) in its latest report.

The national and county governments were expected to set aside taxpayer-funded contracts estimated at Sh62.4 billion in line with the 30 per cent rule.

The authority said national government reserved Sh34.3 billion for the special group or 17.5 per cent of the Sh195.2 billion they used on projects and buying goods and services.

The 13 counties that released reports set aside Sh3.6 billion of Sh13 billion contracts budget, reflecting 27.6 per cent share.

Affirmative programme

Former President Mwai Kibaki initiated the affirmative programme to help youths to compete for government tenders.

President Uhuru Kenyatta expanded it to include women and persons with disabilities besides raising the threshold from 10 per cent to 30 per cent.

But recent indications show that rich and influential individuals may be exploiting this programme – ultimately deepening the rift between the rich and the poor and negating the original intention of the plan.

A firm associated with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s kin was among those awarded supply contracts by the Ministry of Health under the preferential access window.

The firm- Sundales International Limited- has, however, defended itself saying that it is owned by women.