Poghisio: Politics and corruption behind MPs’ rejection of e-procurement
By Paulette Mboga, September 1, 2025Former Cabinet Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Samuel Poghisio, has claimed that politics and corruption are the driving forces behind the resistance to the government’s e-procurement system.
Poghisio argued that the rejection of the system by Members of Parliament has little to do with technical or operational issues but is instead rooted in entrenched political interests and corrupt practices that thrive under the current manual procurement processes.
“The reason the e-procurement system is being rejected by MPs is politics and corruption,” Poghisio said in a TV interview on Monday, September 1, 2025. “We should stop the talk and take action by holding a dialogue between Parliament, County Assemblies and the Executive so we can move forward together in the right direction.”
According to the former minister, the endless debates surrounding the adoption of e-procurement only serve to stall progress and shield corrupt networks that benefit from loopholes in traditional procurement channels. He insisted that a constructive dialogue between key institutions of governance is the only way to break the impasse and ensure the system is embraced across the country.
Calls for dialogue
Poghisio emphasised that the stakes are too high for the country to allow political theatrics to derail the rollout of a system designed to strengthen accountability and improve efficiency in government spending. He warned that without honest dialogue and commitment, Kenya risks undermining its efforts to fight corruption and modernise public service delivery.
“E-procurement is not just a technological tool; it is a governance reform that ensures resources are used transparently and effectively. The losers in this case are ordinary Kenyans who depend on these services,” Poghisio added.
His remarks come at a time when the government has intensified pressure on public institutions to comply with the new e-Government Procurement System (e-GPS).
The National Treasury Cabinet Secretary, John Mbadi, recently issued a stern warning to government entities yet to migrate to the digital platform. Speaking to the media on Thursday, August 28, 2025, Mbadi emphasised that failure to adopt the system would result in punitive measures. He dismissed suggestions that enrollment was optional, insisting that even irregularities in accounting are punishable under the law.
The Treasury CS further underscored the government’s commitment to digitising procurement, saying the reforms are aimed at enhancing transparency, curbing corruption, and improving efficiency in service delivery across all sectors.