The government has cancelled the Ksh12.5 billion police car tender announced in May 2019, a month after top government fell out with CMC Motors, the company that had allegedly won the tender for the lease of 1290 vehicles before being awarded to Toyota Kenya.
The Ministry of Security and Interior Affairs later cancelled the advert in September after claims that all the bidders had overpriced quotations. However, it was reported that the tender had been awarded to Toyota Kenya through the back door, prompting one of the bidders, CMC Motors, to launch a complaint accusing PS Karanja Kibicho of corruption.
Public Procurement Administrative Review Board (PPARB) dismissed CMC’s complaint, prompting them to move to the high court. While in court, the tender was re-advertised and awarded to Toyota on October 1, 2019.
However, Justice John Mativo ruled that the process was done before the lapse of 14 days after the PRAB decision as required by the law.
“The Ministry of Interior cannot enter into a valid contract before expiry of 14 days after the decision of the review board nor can it re-advertise the same procurement before the expiry of the 14 days, as it happened in this case. It follows that the purported re-advertisement and the alleged notification of the successful party or purported awarding of the tender by the ministry is illegal. No documents were exhibited to support the averment nor was the alleged successful bidders disclosed or enjoined in the proceedings,” ruled Mativo.
The advertisement of the tender, which has Lots 1 to 8 divided into various vehicle models has now been moved to the National Treasury, with the current lease contract being extended until further notice after it expired October 15, 2019.
