A specimen of the new currency set to be printed by CBK. [Photo/BusinessToday]
The Central Bank of Kenya has been allowed to open the tender bids for the printing of the new design Kenyan currency.
The tenders are set to be opened on Thursday.
This is after High Court Judge Chacha Mwita turned down an application by De La Rue Security Printing firm and another interested printing company who had sought to stop CBK from opening the tender documents.
On Tuesday, ustice Mwita directed the printing firms to respond to allegations by CBK that they illegally obtained tender documents before he can consider giving any orders.
Through lawyer Ochieng Oduol, CBK urged the court not to issue the restraining orders.
CBK accused the respondents of “not approaching the court with clean hands”.
Oduol pleaded with Justice Mwita to decline the invitation to scuttle the tendering process which began in 2014.
The aggrieved printing companies have accused CBK of unlawfully restricting the tender process to foreign entities alone in violation of mandatory requirements guiding the procurement.
They want the process stopped pending determination of the case on grounds that the move will lead to irreparable harm of the local industry.
CBK has been faulted for issuing the printing tender without considering the Constitution provisions and the Public Procurement and Asset & Disposal Act requiring preference be given to a local firm.