WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014

Speech tender called off after online protest

The tender notice for the airlifting of presidential speeches appears on a Daily Nation advertisement, June 4, 2014

The tender notice for the airlifting of presidential speeches appears on a Daily Nation advertisement, June 4, 2014 

In Summary

  • Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku said the tender worth Sh12 million a year would not be awarded as earlier announced as his ministry would adopt secure ways to distribute the speeches.
  • Kenyans were bemused by the airlift announcement in Wednesday's Daily Nation.
  • Areas near Nairobi pick up the bundles for distribution during public holidays from the Government Printer after being cleared by the Office of the President.
By PATRICK NZIOKA
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Public pressure Wednesday compelled the government to pull out a tender notice to airlift presidential speeches across the country.

This was after Kenyans poked fun at the government after it advertised for bids to airlift the speeches to the counties.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku said the tender worth Sh12 million a year would not be awarded as earlier announced as his ministry would adopt secure ways to distribute the speeches.

Through ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka, the CS said it was a practice to advertise for such services, but it was not tenable following advancements in technology.

"This tender will not be awarded but the ministry will adopt other secure ways of delivering the Presidents' speeches," Mr Njoka said by phone.

He defended the airlifting of hard copies of the President's speech, saying it was suited for areas without proper infrastructure to ensure the message was read at the same time across the country which was however, not the case any more.

"The government does not adapt to change easily, but this mode is not sustainable any more. This tender will not be awarded," Mr Njoka said.

Kenyans were bemused by the airlift announcement in Wednesday's Daily Nation.

This is because the government campaigned on a platform of being digital with questions being raised why hard copies of the speeches would be airlifted during public holidays in the era of technological advancements.

The tender was to close on June 18 with the prequalifications slated to be opened immediately.

A long-serving provincial administration official, who sought anonymity, said that administrators at the grassroots still had a budget to finance collection and distribution of the presidential speeches.
Ferried by road

Areas near Nairobi pick up the bundles for distribution during public holidays from the Government Printer after being cleared by the Office of the President.

For the marginal areas, most of which have poor roads, the bundles are divided into clusters so that hard copies are airlifted and later taken by road.