De La Rue money printing firm along Thika Road [Photo/the-star.co.ke]
The High Court has temporarily suspended the tender given to British money printing firm De La Rue by the Central Bank of Kenya to print the new currency without Kenyatta, Moi portraits.This is after Okiya Omtatah filed a petition with the High Court claiming that the tender was a fraud and against the rule of law.According to the Star, Okiya claimed that the respondents violated Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015; Public Procurement And Disposal Act, 2005; Fair Administrative Action Act, 2015; Central Bank of Kenya Act and Statutory Instruments Act, 2013."The award of the tender by the CBK to De La Rue International Limited, without strict adherence to the constitution and the law, has no consideration for public interest in getting value for money, and will result in the Kenyan taxpayer being condemned to pay rates way above the market rates for printing new design Kenyan currency banknotes," activist Omtatah's petition read in part as written by the Star.High Court Judge Justice Mwita restrained the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) or anybody under its authority from signing a contract with De La Rue.Okiya Omtatah had earlier filed a petition at the High Court against the CBK for failing to release the new currency bearing the big five animals.According to the 2010 constitution, the Kenyan currency should not bear portraits of individuals but rather features that promote national unity.