Firms delaying gov’t projects to be blacklisted – President Kenyatta

The government will now start blacklisting companies that delay delivery of services through court processes. This is the warning sent to suppliers by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

President Kenyatta said the government intends to restrain companies using the courts to hold back the country.

“We must move away from a vendor-driven society. Kenyans are interested in affordable and efficient services,” said the President while receiving a World Development Report.

He pointed out that the many law suits between service providers and regulators were not in the best interest of the country but only deemed to be company-oriented.

“Unnecessary completion by vendors has to stop if the country is to move forward and achieve its development targets.”

The President cited the digital migration in the country, whose implementation dragged for long due to vested interests, a key example of privatisation that is crucial to service delivery.

“It is evident as government programmes including e-procurement, extension of the police command and control centre outside Nairobi and Mombasa and privatization of terminal two at the port of Mombasa have been slowed down by monopolistic vendors battling in courts.”

President Kenyatta said the delay in digital migration, prompted by conventional media houses to protect their monopolistic interests, merely delayed benefits of digital technologies for Kenyans.

“Vendors fighting one another or with the regulators only tend to protect business monopolies but have no interest of the country at heart. It is clear that the digital migration has paid dividends by opening up space for more radio and TV stations,” he added.

The President told interested suppliers that they will not be allowed to delay the roll out the digital learning project. He also urged technical training institutions in the country to establish training opportunities that will enable youth become ICT experts.

“One does not have to go to university to be an expert in ICT. Technical training institutions tailor their courses to ensure that world class ICT course are offered for the youth at that level,” President Kenyatta said.

He also insisted that despite the country’s vested interests to embrace the ICT agenda, stark caution should also be observed to ensure criminals do not impose upon and perpetuate criminal activities making it prone to cyber-crimes.

The Digital Dividends Report 2016, a World Bank flagship project, was presented to the President by the World Bank Country Director for Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Eritrea Ms. Diarietou Gaye.

It examines the transformational impact of the internet, mobile phones and other correlated gadgets that gather, store and share information digitally.

The report defines digital dividends as benefits of technology in promoting development at effective costs.
The ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru acclaimed that a new policy was being developed to ensure e-services are embraced to advance transparency in all government agencies.