Wajir governor criticises e-procurement rollout as poorly planned
Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, who also serves as the Chair of the Council of Governors (CoG), has strongly criticised the government’s rollout of the new e-procurement system, describing it as rushed and poorly planned.
Speaking on Monday, September 1, 2025, after an Extra-Ordinary Council of Governors meeting Abdullahi said the digital shift, while necessary to enhance transparency and accountability, was being implemented without proper consultation with county governments.
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He cautioned that the approach risks creating confusion and inefficiency in public procurement processes across the country.
Governor raises concerns
“The e-procurement system has been introduced without giving counties enough time to test its efficiency, build capacity among staff, or run parallel systems to address potential failures,” Abdullahi said.
He recalled how the government’s Human Resource Information System (HRIS) rollout in September 2024 had to be suspended after causing weeks of salary delays for county workers. “We cannot afford to repeat the same mistake with procurement,” he added.
The governor further pointed out that while electronic systems are critical for accountability, their implementation must be practical and seamless.
He accused the National Treasury of using “intimidation and threats” instead of supporting counties to adopt the new platform smoothly.
Calls for proper rollout
Abdullahi questioned why the Treasury was keen to push counties into full adoption while no state agency or ministry had successfully implemented the system without setbacks. He insisted that the transition to e-procurement should be gradual, with extensive training and troubleshooting.
“Counties cannot be made scapegoats in a process where the national government itself has not demonstrated success,” he said, urging for collaboration rather than coercion.
The governor also stressed that accountability in procurement requires more than technology, pointing to the need for strong oversight mechanisms and capacity at both national and county levels.
Ruto’s stern warning
The governor’s remarks come a day after President William Ruto issued a stern warning to government officials resisting the adoption of the electronic procurement (e-procurement) system. He emphasised that the new platform is designed to open government spending to public scrutiny, ensuring that every coin of taxpayers’ money is accounted for.
“Procurement should be open for all Kenyans to know how their money is being spent,” Ruto said on Sunday.
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William Muthama
William Muthama is a digital journalist with a focus on entertainment, human interest, and current affairs. Share stories: [email protected]/ [email protected]
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