Nakuru County youths have welcomed the launch of e-tendering which they say will be fair to all.
The youth say that e-tendering is a good way to curb procurement corruption in counties and the national government. The process will be done online and the tenders will be posted on the respective government websites.
Jane Kamau, who runs an event management company, said, “Online tendering would ensure transparency, accountability to citizens. It also incorporates all the benefits of transacting on the internet.”
E-tendering will officially be launched on August 13 and this will incorporate both national and county governments.
Nakuru County youths representative Irene Chebichi said that the process will cut down on the public sector's biggest tender processing cost.
“The advertising costs will be reduced significantly and the youths will save a lot,” said Chebichi.
She added that for one to access the service, they need to have internet connection and email address.
“The internet has revolutionised business access to information. This will make other tendering firms like mine to have a 24-hour internet connection and know how to use the internet,” said 68-year-old John Kamau, a Nakuru resident who owns an errand service.
“E-procurement has the potential to limit corruption. Most youths lack the money to bribe for the tenders, so going online is favouring us,” said Erick Kipruto, a fourth year engineering student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Nakuru.
Kipruto added that automating the process could reduce the cost of procurement transactions.
After the launch, service providers will have a chance to seek information for tenders online, submit tenders, maintain and communicate information on their goods and services via the internet.
They will also have chance to receive orders, invoice buyers and receive payment electronically.