Mbadi fires back at MPs over e-procurement compliance concern
The National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has fired back at the National Assembly members and the Council of Governors’ concerns over the new e-procurement system by the government.
The Treasury Cabinet Secretary, while addressing the leaders on Thursday, August 28, 2025, during an interview with a local media house, has affirmed that the government has trained all public finance management officers on how to handle the system.
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According to Mbadi, while addressing the National Assembly’s fears, he revealed that the compliance level of the e-government procurement is very high.
“The compliance level of the e-government procurement is very high. We have trained all state departments; we have trained all public finance management officers in all counties,” CS Mbadi said.
Mbadi further added that, “We are at the moment training through webinars 5000 more officers in the entire government system.”
MPs reject e-procurement
Meanwhile, Mbadi’s remarks follow a rejection of the electronic government procurement system (e-GPS) by Parliament on the grounds that it violates the Constitution.
The committee, led by Ainabkoi Member of Parliament (MP) Samuel Chepkonga, said that the circular mandating the use of e-GPS by all public procurement organisations violates Section 77 of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act since it aims to circumvent House approvals.
Lawmakers cited Articles 2(1)&(2), 10, 27(2), 94(5), and 227 of the Constitution, which deal with the supremacy of the Constitution, national values, and principles of governance.
These include public participation, transparency, accountability, equality, and the enjoyment of all rights and fundamental freedoms.
Mbadi addresses MPs
Mbadi has, however, dismissed Parliament’s move to annul a circular mandating all public institutions to use the electronic system, insisting that only the Cabinet can overturn such a government directive.
He says those opposing the transition are individuals keen on manipulating the procurement system for selfish interests.
“I was hired to bring change. Parliament vetted me, and I told them I would implement e-procurement, and they applauded me for it. So how can Parliament now turn around and say the move violates the Constitution? They should show me where,” stated Mbadi.
Speaking at the Deputy President’s residence in Karen during the 13th Development Partnership Forum on Enhancing Effective Development Co-operation on Thursday, August 28, 2025, Mbadi said the e-procurement directive remains intact and Parliament has no power to revoke it.
“I issued a circular for the adoption of e-procurement, and that is still the position until the Cabinet revokes it. I did not present anything to Parliament for revocation,” Mbadi said.
At the time, Mbadi cautioned that attempts to undermine the system are being pushed by individuals with vested interests in manual tendering processes, noting that opposition to the new system is rooted in efforts to preserve corruption loopholes.
