The National Assembly has adopted a special report by the Public Accounts Committee on the accounts of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
The report, among others, recommended that French IT firm IDEMIA be barred from participating or entering into any kind of procurement payable using public money for 10 years.
MPs approved the report after passing an amendment by Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma seeking the IT firm be investigated for continually violating and contravening mandatory provisions of the Companies Act by purporting to do business with IEBC before being registered in Kenya.
Raised questions
Speaker Justin Muturi turned down a request by newly-elected Ugenya MP David Ochieng, who argued that approving the amendment might negatively affect foreign firms doing business in Kenya.
PAC chairman Opiyo Wandayi stated that he was indifferent to the amendment but said the committee’s chief legal counsel had advised that the amendment is illegal.
Majority Leader Aden Duale, Ruaraka MP Tom Kajwang, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro were among MPs who supported the amendment citing that the change in company name over the last few years had raised questions.
PAC found the firm, which provided the electoral commission with the Kenya Integrated Election Management System kits in the 2017 elections, was not registered as a foreign company in accordance with the Companies Act when it entered into business with the IEBC.
PHOTO/COURTESY
