Treasury CS John Mbadi/DPCS SCREENGRABNational Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to e-procurement, dismissing claims that the circular requiring its use had been revoked.
Speaking during the Development Partnership Forum on Thursday, Mbadi emphasised that government officers have no legal or procedural excuse to ignore the circular and that the country will not return to the manual procurement system.
“There has been contention that e-procurement was revoked. Let me be clear: Parliament has not revoked anything. If any government officer is going to use that as an excuse, I will not accept it,” Mbadi stated.
He explained that the circular, like other Treasury-issued directives on zero-based budgeting and the Treasury Single Account, remains legally binding and forms part of the government’s reforms to enhance transparency and efficiency in public financial management.
Mbadi also addressed reports suggesting that mandatory e-procurement was being challenged in Parliament.
“I have issued circulars to guide government officers on procurement processes. When I issue circulars on e-procurement, questions arise, yet these are directives from the National Treasury. Parliament has not revoked any circular, and there is no legal requirement to present these circulars for approval,” he clarified.
He further reminded the audience that his vetting in Parliament included a commitment to implement e-procurement, for which MPs had expressed support.
“So how can Parliament now claim it is violating the Constitution? Which provision? There is no violation. The Constitution is clear that accounting and procurement systems are functions of the National Treasury. We design these systems for the government. Nothing has been revoked,” Mbadi stressed.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, also present during the event, echoed Mbadi’s remarks, reaffirming the government’s position against reverting to manual procurement.
He acknowledged challenges facing county governments and some national government agencies in implementing e-procurement, including his office, but emphasised that these challenges must be resolved.
“We must resolve these challenges and implement e-procurement because we will not revert to the manual procurement system,” Kindiki said.
The Treasury’s firm stance on e-procurement comes days after reports suggested a disagreement in Parliament over a circular requiring mandatory use of the system.
