CS Aden Duale backs President Ruto’s push for e-procurement: “No turning back”

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has thrown his weight behind President William Ruto’s renewed push for a government-wide e-procurement system, saying it will eliminate the corruption and waste plaguing public service procurement.

In a statement posted on X on Friday, September 12, Duale said the government is losing nearly 40 percent of its resources through graft and pilferage in manual procurement processes.

“The government loses up to 40 per cent of resources in the procurement of public services due to corruption and pilferage,” Duale said.

“To put an end to this misappropriation and embezzlement of funds, we are firmly committed to adopting e-procurement with no turning back, ”he added.

Duale, whose Health docket has faced scrutiny over fraud cases involving the Social Health Authority (SHA), said the new digital system will make public spending transparent and accessible to citizens.

“This digital shift will seal loopholes while fostering transparency and accountability in the use of public resources,” he said.

“Kenyans have a right to know how their taxes are spent and embracing e-procurement will ensure every transaction is open and traceable for public auditing.”

His remarks came a day after President Ruto defended the e-procurement proposal while issuing cheques to the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) in Nairobi.

“Procurement of public services , we lose up to 40 per cent of public money,” the president said.

“That is why we have said we are going to e-procurement, so that it becomes transparent. Where is the problem if the public knows how much you have procured? Why does it have to be in the dark?”

The Council of Governors has opposed the e-procurement rollout, arguing it could slow down development at the grassroots and delay county projects.

Even as the procurement debate rages, President Ruto has announced a raft of development projects in Kisii and Nyamira counties, including more than 22,000 affordable housing units, student hostels worth KSh2.5 billion and seven modern markets aimed at anchoring trade and boosting the local economy.