E-procurement policy framework and strategy for Kenya

Abstract

Ethical paucity augmented by "self' propagating culture have been found to be major challenges in the Kenyan business fraternity. The researcher has endeavored to establish the extent of the problem by studying tendering processes for the central government and a selected quasi-government institution. Four (4) data collection methods namely document reviews, personal interviews, review of internet sites, and administration of questionnaire have been applied in the methodology. Further confirmations have been made through review of print media reports. The questionnaire has been significantly applied to further analyze the identified factors through decomposition of a factor into sub-items and computing the probability (p) values of each sub-item. Attempt has been made to deduce the cause of the problem through further analysis of items such as inadequate legal and superstructures, lack of use of contemporary technology like e-procurement, and powerful influence. The major question posed is whether adopting e-procurement in isolation could to bring about transparency in public procurement. From the results, challenges facing the Kenyan society have been analyzed in view of the procurement problem in the public institutions. Approaches in other countries indicate that e-procurement is a relatively new phenomenon and most countries, are at the stage of developing their policies. However, further findings reveal that Chile has successfully applied e-procurement to mitigate graft. The results reveal that while meaningful procurement reforms require speed in delivery, storage volume, information manipulation and networking, change of attitude, formulation, and implementation of policy framework that also support e-procurement structures precede any other work endeavoring to adopt contemporary .tool to mitigate graft in procurement. The research concludes that use of e-procurement could not be justified, as immediate solution to < the problem. Formation of strong professional associations with binding code of ethics with stringent penalties and creation of strong ethics management committees with adequate hotline tools within the public sector agencies is recommended, A legal framework engraved in an Act of parliament should support this. Development of human resource is part of the immediate solution to the problem.