President William Ruto has announced that the government will implement a fully digital e-procurement system starting July 1, 2025, as part of bold reforms aimed at eliminating fraud, enhancing transparency, and curbing inflated procurement costs in public service.
Speaking during the closing of the 3rd National Executive Retreat in Karen, President Ruto emphasized that the new platform will handle all government procurement processes end-to-end, with no exceptions.
“We should be able to know who has been awarded what tender, at how much, and how many people participated. It should be open to everybody,” he said, stressing the need for transparency and accountability in public spending.
Ruto warned that public officials responsible for mismanagement of funds or fraudulent procurement practices will face personal accountability. Citing a hypothetical case of a procurement officer awarding a tender to a non-existent hospital, he stated that such actions would attract serious consequences.
To further tighten fiscal discipline, the President announced plans to establish a Single Treasury Account to consolidate public funds and prevent earnings from benefiting individuals through interest accrued in multiple bank accounts. He also revealed that Kenya will shift from cash-based to accrual accounting and adopt zero-based budgeting to minimize wastage and enhance resource allocation efficiency.
Additionally, Ruto urged all public agencies to embrace digitised service delivery, warning those resisting the government’s online payment system to comply. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a smarter, leaner, and more efficient government, aligned with the needs of Kenya’s young, educated, and digitally aware population.
He also called on civil servants to avoid conflicts of interest in procurement processes. “There is still a lot of conflict of interest in government. Instead of serving the public, you are serving your personal interests,” he cautioned.
In a statement read by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, the retreat concluded with a resolution to enhance government service delivery, improve performance, and strengthen public trust.
Written By Rodney Mbua
