This archive report was first published on 10 October 2019.
On June 23, 2017, Defence Cabinet Secretary Rachael Omamo delivered a speech to security officers from different security agencies in 'Dumisha Utulivu', an exercise aimed at tackling security challenges effectively.
However, the Ministry of Defence is now under fire from Members of Parliament over the purchase of a business process management software at an inflated price. According to an audit report by the Auditor General, the Department of Defence (DoD) spent Sh156 million to purchase an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system through restricted tendering.
The National Assembly Public Accounts Committee summoned State Department Principal Secretary Ibrahim Mohammed to explain how the cost of the tender, which was awarded to M/s Alliance Technologies, increased by Sh150 million.
Committee chairman Opiyo Wandayi stated, “We want to get to the bottom of this audit. We cannot afford to sit back while public funds are not being spent prudently.”
The ERP system, which was installed during the 2016-17 financial year, is designed to help the KDF efficiently manage its logistics processes. However, the audit report revealed that the system was not being used optimally due to various reasons, including lack of trained operators and frequent power failures.
Principal Secretary Mohammed attributed the system's underutilization to lack of trained operators, lack of trained personnel to maintain it, high turnover of personnel, frequent power failures, and incomplete infrastructure.
He further stated, “The system was not able to perform optimally due to rapid technological changes and low manning levels following the deployment of KDF personnel to operations in Somalia.”
The Auditor General's report also noted that an inspection done at the Kenya Army Ordinance Corps, based at Kahawa Barracks, had revealed that the ERP system had failed.
