Musalia Mudavadi Calls for Urgent Action to Eradicate Corruption in Public Procurement

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has issued a powerful call to action to public procurement officers, urging them to take decisive steps to  eradicate the corruption deeply embedded in their profession. Addressing the Heads of Supply Chain and Procurement Forum 2024 in Mombasa, Mudavadi did not mince words as he highlighted the gravity of the situation, comparing the pervasive corruption to a cancer that requires urgent “self-surgery.”

Mudavadi made it clear that rogue procurement officers are on notice. In his speech, he pointed to the infamous Goldenberg and Anglo Leasing scandals, as well as other grand corruption cases, as evidence of the widespread fraud that has plagued Kenya’s public sector for years.

Mudavadi underscored the alarming findings in the Auditor General’s annual reports, which consistently document corruption, abuse of office, and mismanagement of public resources. He noted that some public officials possess wealth and assets far exceeding what they could reasonably earn through their salaries and investments, pointing to the scale of the problem.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary also raised concerns about the manipulation of tender documents to favor specific individuals, leading to predetermined outcomes long before tenders are awarded. Mudavadi called for strict adherence to procurement laws, cautioning against corruption achieved through irregular adjustments during the procurement process. He reminded the forum participants that committees responsible for contract evaluation, implementation, inspection, acceptance, and disposal must perform their duties with the utmost integrity.

He stressed that public procurement is perceived as more susceptible to corruption than other areas of government, such as tax collection, passport issuance, the judiciary, or public utilities. Mudavadi challenged procurement professionals to reflect on how they can reposition their profession to support Kenya’s development agenda and change the negative perception surrounding their work by ensuring strict compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks.