By Our Reporter
The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has given the Kenya Revenue Authority three weeks to provide detailed answers on queries relating to a Multi-billion shillings contract.
The committee chaired by David Pkosing is probing the process leading to the award of a contract for Electronic Goods Management System to Swiss Company SICPA SA Security Solutions (SICPA) without sufficient evidence of competitive bidding.
The KRA officials told the committee that the system was meant to help KRA track and trace all goods that attract exercise duty.
Queries on the contract emerged during a meeting of the committee to examine KRA’s audited accounts for Financial Years 2015/2016 to 2020/2021.
KRA officials led by Acting Commissioner General Ms. Risper Simiyu, had sought the three weeks to provide comprehensive responses to several questions raised by Members on the contract issued in April 2013.
The committee was informed that the initial contract was signed on 18th April, 2013 for a period of five years.
This contract was terminated on 30th October, 2015 when a new five year term contract was entered into between KRA and SICPA.
The committee was further told that there had been subsequently two addendums to the 2015 contract on May, 4 2021 and another in December, 23 2022.
The committee sought to know from the KRA team on who the local subsidiaries of the Swiss Company were, and why the contract payment was entered in Euros.
Pkosing said that there was need for the committee to dispense with the contract matter to deal with more pressing audit concerns on KRA books.
“We need a detailed explanation on this contract so that we can move to other audit queries. There is so much confusion and we need clarifications on all the questions asked by members within three weeks,” directed Pkosing.
Other Committee Members present were Vice-Chair Lilian Gogo (Rangwe), Marianne Kitany (Aldai), Beatrice Adagala (Vihiga County), Sarah Korere (Laikipia North), Adan Keynan (Eldas), Mohamed Yusuf (Wajir-West), Peter Kihungi (Kangema), Mwangi Kiunjuri (Laikipia East) and Machua Waithaka (Kiambu).
Elizabeth Angira