President Ruto roots for controversial e-GP procurement system during Mandera fundraiser at a Nairobi hotel

President William Ruto has urged leaders to support the recently introduced Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system in managing the buying of goods and services in public entities.

The President said because the digital platform will be available to the public at the click of a button, it greatly helps transparency and accountability, and eliminate corruption, misuse of public funds, favouritism, and the practice of overpricing goods and services sold to public institutions.

President Ruto spoke during a fundraiser for the development of Islamic institutions and establishment of Eltabashi Educational Trust in Mandera County at a Nairobi hotel on yesterday night.

He commended the Eltabashi Educational Trust for its dedication to supporting vulnerable children in Northern Kenya, recognizing education as the foundation of opportunity, progress, and national unity.

He explained that more than 40 per cent of public money is estimated to be lost through corruption during procurement.

The President assured the country that the teething challenges the e-procurement system is experiencing are being addressed.

“We will correct the challenge but the ultimate goal is to make sure that citizens of Kenya get value for the resources they make available to us in National, County governments and any other public procurement entity,” he said.

Leaders present included Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Governors Mohammed Adan Khalif (Mandera), Nathif Jama (Garissa) and Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir) and Mandera Senator Ali Roba.

Others were National Assembly Minority Leader and Suna East MP Junet Mohammed and Eldas MP Adan Keynan.

Saying digitisation of services enhances efficiency and effectiveness, President Ruto said placing more than 22,000 of government services on a digital platform, e-Citizen, has yielded huge resources and enabled Kenyans to transact with the State from the comfort of their homes and places of work.

“As leaders, we are called upon to exercise integrity and get value for money that come our way,” he said.

The President said public funds must be used in a manner that ensures Kenyans get full benefits.

He further said the Conflict of Interest Act will ensure those privileged to serve as public servants are held to account.

“This is the reason we want government procurement to be transparent to ensure we get value for any purchase,” he explained.

He disclosed that when the e-procurement platform was implemented in Indonesia, the country saved up to 40 per cent of funds that were being spent in a manual system.

At the same time, President Ruto reiterated that no part of the country would be left behind in nation programmes and development.

“On matters of equity, there are no lesser or greater Kenyans. We are all citizens of one nation with equal rights,” he said. “No part of Kenya, community or religion is lesser or greater than the other.”

In the past three years, the President explained that Kenya’s economy has stabilised and enabled the government to implement transformative measures in education, health, affordable housing and agriculture.

On Northern Kenya, President Ruto said the region was the future of the country because of the vast land, huge potential for irrigation, generation of energy and livestock development

“It is going to play a very central role in the future and our investment in the region is not in vain; it is strategic because that is where the future of Kenya lies,” he said.

He said the government has been creative and innovative in mobilising funds for national development, including raising resources locally, instead of the easier of borrowing.

The President cited the Affordable Housing Programme, saying the 170,000 units, 400 fresh produce markets and student hostels for 177,000 students are being built with funds collected through the Housing Levy.

As a result, contracts worth Sh600billion have been signed to implement the Affordable Housing Programme, President Ruto explained.

In health, the President said close to KSh90 billion has been raised by Social Health Authority members to fund universal health coverage, while an equipment leasing programme has rolled out medical kits worth KSh220 billion.

The President also explained that resources for the construction of the ultra-modern Talanta Sports City Stadium, other 25 other stadia across the country and a conference facility at Bomas in Nairobi have been raised from local resources.

Commending Mandera County leadership for the fundraiser, the President said investing in religious education, the madrassa, will make it more sustainable.

“Education is the single most important empowerment we can give to this generation and the one to come,” he said.

Roba said the region appreciates the many projects the government is implementing in Northern Kenya, adding that the region will fully support President Ruto.

Governor Khalif told the President: “You have made it plain and clear that we, the Somali community, are not second-hand citizens. We appreciate your generosity and magnanimity in contributing to this religious endowment.”

Khalif said Mandera was fully behind the government, adding that the by-election in Banisa, Wajir, will deliver the first parliamentary seat to UDA this year.

Duale pointed out that President Ruto has over the years supported Islamic institutions because he is a believer in equity and understands the strength of the country’s diversity.

Keynan said the whole of Northern Kenya will support the re-election of President Ruto in 2027 because he has united the country.

“You are a unique President because you understand, appreciate and respect the diversity and the face of Republic Kenya,” he said.

Junet said the Somali community was active in the country’s economy and will fully back President Ruto’s re-election.