We can’t probe rail project, says Public Procurement Oversight Authority

By MOSES NJAGIH

Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA) Director General Maurice Juma now says his body does not have authority to probe the procurement of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project since it is a government-to-government arrangement.

 Juma told Parliament’s Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure that they would only probe the procedure that led to the procurement of the deal, if they are allowed to so under the financing agreement that is yet to be signed.

The Director General shocked the committee when he said he was not privy to the details of the contract for the railway project as it was not within their mandate.

 He said PPOA only has details of an initial contract that Kenya Railways Corporation had signed with the China Roads and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), only for supply of locomotives and rolling stocks, which was cancelled.

“We may not be able to make a comment on the construction of Standard Gauge Railway with authority since we have no role in it,” said the procurement boss. Juma said although PPOA had started auditing the procurement of the initial tender, it had opted out after the process was terminated and contract turned to a government-to-government one.

Challenged by committee chair Maina Kamanda on whether the termination of the procurement process was procedural, Juma said the law allows that to happen before a contract is signed.