Another House team questions Safaricom tender

Another committee of Parliament has raised eyebrows over the Sh15 billion contract awarded to Safaricom Limited for supply of a national surveillance system.

The National Assembly’s Energy and Communications committee said the award did not satisfy the conditions for direct tendering that are spelt out in public procurement and disposal laws.

“It is difficult to see how the proposed engagement between Safaricom and the government would satisfy the circumstances necessitating restricted tendering or direct procurement,” said legislators Nicholas Gumbo, Vincent Musyoka and John Mbadi. The three are members of the committee.

Safaricom was awarded the tender to supply and install the Integrated Public Safety Communications and Surveillance System without competitive bidding last month.

“How was the Sh15 billion cost of the system arrived at without competitive bidding?” Mr Musyoka asked.

READ: Safaricom set to earn Sh8bn for managing security system

Last Thursday, Parliament’s Security Committee raised concerns similar to those of the three legislators who said restricted tendering could only be justified in cases where specialised goods and services are supplied by pre-qualified contractors.

Direct procurement, they said, would only apply in monopolistic sectors where only one entity can competently supply the goods, works or services.

Kenya’s quest for a modern security surveillance system started in 2006, but has been beset with one controversy after another. The system recommended was rejected on the grounds that it was to run on a platform owned by the private sector.

“International best practice requires police to operate their own secure, separate and independent platform,” said the MPs in a joint statement read at Parliament buildings by Mr Gumbo.

President Uhuru Kenyatta announced on Sunday that the government plans to install CCTV cameras and other digital equipment that would incorporate audio, video and data in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret.

The devices would have the capacity to capture facial images in an effort to combat crime and terror attacks.

“We want to know who will run the project between Kenyan security and Safaricom employees. We want to know whether Safaricom has handled similar projects in other jurisdictions so that our security is not compromised by private individuals,” Mr Mbadi said.

“How is the security of the system itself guaranteed against intrusion by third parties, including Safaricom owners and personnel? What experience on security contracting is Safaricom bringing to the project?,” Mr Musyoka posed.