Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has ordered all state and county governments to strictly use the e-Government Procurement system.

He said the directive follows President William Ruto’s instructions and must be implemented without exception.

Speaking during a special programmes outreach in Chuka Igambang’ombe, on Thursday, September 4, 2025, he said the system will stop fraud and protect public money.

“Wale ambao wanapinga maneno ya e-procurement ambao serikali imehakikisha ya kwamba hiyo mpango lazima iendelee. Hili ile ukora ambayo imekuwa imeendelea katika taifa, ya kandarasi, ya kupoteza pesa mingi ya umma katika makadarasi; hiyo maneno iwe ni kitu ambayo haitakuwa inafanyika katika inchi yetu ya Kenya kwenda mbele,” Ruku said.

He added that the president’s word was final and no official would be spared.

“And when the president issues instructions that e-procurement must be implemented, wale wote tuko serikali tuhakikishe ya kwamba hiyo inafanyika. Na mimi nasema kama Waziri wa Public Service ya kwamba, e-government procurement must be implemented by all government officials. In all the ministries. In all the county governments,” he stated.

Ruku warns defiant officials

The CS stressed that the money used in tenders belongs to citizens. He said inflated costs had created abnormal profits for suppliers, which must stop.

“Ju hii pesa ambayo inaenda katika tenders ni pesa ya wananchi wa Kenya. Lazima itumike kwa njia ambayo inaonekana. In a transparent manner. Mambo ya kununua supplies kwa bei ambayo iko juu ili watu waende kupata abnormal profits, that thing must be a thing of the past,” Ruku explained.

He then issued a stern warning to those unwilling to follow the directive.

“…na kama vile rais amesema kama uko katika serikali, na hautaki ya kwamba, you are implementing the govt policy on e-government procurement, we toka enda tafuta kazi ingine.

“Kuna Wakenya wanataka hiyo kazi; wakuje wahakikishe kwamba hiyo inafanyika. And it is not only in the national government pia katika pale county government,” he declared.

The e-government procurement system was launched in April 2025. It will be the only platform for tendering in the 2025/26 financial year. The Treasury estimates it could save Kenya up to Ksh150 billion every year.

The system digitises the entire procurement chain, from planning to payment. It also connects to databases such as KRA’s iTax and IFMIS. Officials say it will reduce fraud and ensure value for money.