Will technological tender process end the reign of “tender-preneurs”?
Biztech Africa‘s Tom Jackson reports from Connected East Africa conference in Diani, Kenya, that former Kenyan permanent ministry secretary Dr Bitange Ndemo has given a speech on how corruption is holding back technological investment in the country.
The paper reports that development as a tech hub in East Africa is “being held back by corruption and “tender-preneurs” who take advantage of lax procurement regulation.”
The speaker was in the ministry until 2013 and has since returned to the University of Nairobi. Referring to new government initiatives to digitise the procurement process (in order to prevent and/or limit corrupt tenders), he said that “I hope, and I pray, that this anti-corruption process at the moment reveals the true ‘tender-preneurs’.”
“Because the problem is in the procurement law and the PPP law. We have super wheeler dealers behind and then you are the one that gets in trouble. But if they were to decide to work for the people then Kenya would be developed in one year. Because they can execute.”
Anti-Fraud & Corruption Law in Africa 