President William Ruto has intensified efforts to combat corruption by enforcing mandatory adoption of e-procurement systems and legislative reforms, aiming to increase transparency and accountability in government contracts.
President William Ruto has intensified his administration’s battle against corruption in government procurement, issuing a stark ultimatum to officials opposing the adoption of electronic procurement systems. Speaking at a church service in Siaya County in August 2025, Ruto declared that the days of inflated contracts and fraudulent quotations driven by corrupt procurement practices were over. He stressed that his government’s rollout of e-procurement is designed to enhance transparency by digitally documenting procurement transactions, ensuring public funds are used appropriately.
Quoting the president, “There are many used to corrupt contracts where something worth two shillings is bought for ten shillings by the government due to corrupt procurement quotations. Now we say we are implementing e-procurement so that it is clear how much money was paid and who sold to the government.” He further revealed that resistance to these reforms exists among some procurement and accounting officers who seek to protect old corrupt systems but insisted that such resistance would be futile. He warned that public officials who refuse to align with the reforms should consider seeking employment outside the public sector, underscoring the non-negotiable nature of e-procurement.
This recently reinforced stance is in line with previous directives President Ruto issued earlier in 2025, including an order to the National Treasury to expedite the implementation of the Sh560 million Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system. The system is tasked with digitising all government tenders by the first quarter of 2025 to clamp down on procurement-related fraud and inefficiencies. The government aims for a fully end-to-end electronic procurement process starting July 1, 2025, eliminating human interference that often leads to inflated pricing and ghost suppliers—an issue that has drained billions from public coffers and sparked widespread public concern.
In addition to the digital overhaul, President Ruto has been advancing legislative reforms to bolster anti-corruption efforts. He signed into law the Conflict of Interest Bill in 2025, establishing a stringent framework that prohibits public officers from activities that may compromise their duties or foster preferential treatment in procurement. This law aims to close the loopholes that have traditionally allowed corruption and misuse of public office to flourish, particularly in contracting processes. Ruto has openly criticised MPs for previous delays in passing such key legislation, urging urgency in combatting graft.
The president has also publicly affirmed his government’s commitment to holding accountable those involved in fraudulent schemes. This includes officials implicated in malpractice within entities like the Social Health Insurance Fund, where he has promised prosecution and restitution of stolen funds. His administration’s approach is clear: transparency, accountability, and reform are paramount, with no room for officials who seek to undermine public trust or financial probity.
President Ruto’s uncompromising message resonates strongly across the public service, signalling an era where resistance to modernization and transparency in procurement will no longer be tolerated. By digitalising procurement and strengthening legal frameworks, his government seeks to ensure that taxpayer money is prudently managed, corruption is drastically reduced, and developmental resources are safeguarded for Kenya’s progress.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Subscribe to Industry Updates
