This level of transparency is important given that tendering has been the key cog in Kenya’s big corruption wheel.
State House’s publication of guidelines seeking monthly publication of information on public contracts awarded in the previous month is an action that was long overdue in today’s digital world.
This is for the simple reason that transparency remains the most lethal weapon against theft in any organization, including government.
Kenyans will of course have to wait and see what comes out of it — though from the outset, the scope of the new measures is deliberately intended to make the entire tendering process as transparent as possible. For instance, the public will be able to see who is being awarded contracts, the owners and beneficiaries of these entities and their tax compliance status, the value of the deals, among other things. This level of transparency is important given that tendering has been the key cog in Kenya’s big corruption wheel.
In Kenya, the award of contracts has been shrouded in secrecy offering the looters the veil they need to execute their evil schemes.
It will no longer be the case. The public will now, as well, be able to see the contracts that particular firms or individuals have been awarded in the past, a move that bears the potential of expanding the boundaries of accountability.
The real test will, however, come in the actual implementation of these regulations. Kenyans expect that the transparency guidelines will be strictly followed and where it is not, appropriate sanctions will apply. If only these measures can be adhered to, then to a large extent, the war on corruption could start bearing fruit.
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Note: The results are not exact but very close to the actual.
