Buses for Sh10m? President Uhuru orders probe at KAA

Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries to process government contracts and tenders online by next week or be fired.

He also ordered an impromptu investigation into approximately Sh120 million annual payment by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) for five shuttle buses.

The President also put on notice Principal Secretaries yet to adopt the e-procurement system.

The system is meant to enhance transparency in how tenders are awarded and reduce chances of corruption.

“If you are not fully on e-procurement by next week, your status as an accounting officer will be withdrawn. There are many Kenyans capable of doing the same job. We will demand that you show cause why you should still be a Principal Secretary if you are not capable of fulfilling a simple directive,” said Uhuru.

On the shuttle buses deal, Uhuru said he can provide National Youth Service buses to do the same job at a cost of Sh100,000 a month.

“I find it impossible to believe that you can claim to have buses here and pay Sh10 million or Sh11 million per month for five buses. Why not come to me and I will give you National Youth Service buses at Sh100,000?” he said.

Uhuru directed KAA chairman David Kimaiyo to investigate the matter and ensure those involved in the exaggerated payments are arrested and charged in court to recover public funds.

The President spoke yesterday at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) when he officially launched the new Terminal 2 that has been renovated.

He warned officers with the habit of misappropriating public funds that their time is up.

The President urged civil servants to speak out boldly when they notice any misuse of government funds.

“We must be transparent in how we go about our business. We must realise that we did not get these jobs to enrich ourselves but to deliver quality service to the people who have given us this responsibility,” added Uhuru.

The airport’s state-of-the-art Terminal 2 which sits on 10,000 square meters will allow the airport handle an additional 2.5 million passengers annually.

This will boost JKIA’s capacity to handling 7.5 million passengers annually. The prestigious terminal will serve both domestic and international passengers.

Acting Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the new terminal will significantly ease congestion at the airport while delivering world class experience to passengers.

Macharia said passenger numbers at the JKIA have begun showing signs of recovery and they are hopeful that the growth will eventually rise by 12 per cent annually.

He stressed on the need to fast track the ongoing expansion and modernisation projects at the JKIA to cater for future increased cargo and passenger numbers.

“If we attain this growth, it is projected that by 2025, the airport will be handling an estimated 25 million passengers annually. This growth in traffic calls for sustained increase in passenger handling capacity through infrastructure investment and development,” he said.

The new terminal which was procured, shipped and installed at a cost of $180 million is already in use with some of the airlines operating from the new station including Fly 540, Sax, Juba and Africa Air Express among others.