Senator Appeals to Ruto Claiming Govt Officials Use Kenyans’ IDs to Register Companies

Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang has asked President William Ruto to establish a task force to investigate the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities(AGPO) over claims of bribery and fraud.

Speaking during an interdenominational prayer service at Cheptais Boys High School in Trans Nzoia County on Sunday, an event attended by the Head of State, Chesang alleged that AGPO has failed to benefit thousands of Kenyan youth as intended, citing corruption as the primary obstacle.

”Your Excellency, you should create for us just a single task force for investigating Access to Government Procurement Opportunities(AGPO) in this your government,” Chesang urged.

According to the youthful Senator, some people at AGPO have been taking advantage of the youth, women, and people living with disabilities (PWDs) by using their ID cards to register companies.

AGPO, a Kenyan government initiative designed to empower marginalized groups including women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) by granting them access to government procurement and tenders, has been under public scrutiny regarding its effectiveness in improving the livelihoods of the youth.

The lawmaker further noted that since the program’s launch in 2013 by then-President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto, its primary objective remains unfulfilled.

Additionally, Chesang advocated for the establishment of a task force to investigate the authority’s operations, asserting that it could be a key step toward addressing the mystery of youth unemployment. 

”There are many people here who pick youth IDs and use them for registering their companies without the knowledge of the youth. What this means is that the money meant for the youth is released with the intent of benefitting them but in the long run ends in the pockets of the few old men, defeating the purpose of the program” he added.

”If you grant the task force your Excellency, to check whether the 30 per cent allocation reaches the youth, then be rest assured that there will be trickling down of the cash flows to the youth, enabling them to get jobs and tenders,” he stated.

The program was initiated to ensure that 30 per cent of all government procurement opportunities are set aside for these groups, as outlined in the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act. 

Additionally, AGPO was introduced to promote inclusivity, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment by enabling these groups to participate in public tenders without the need for previous work experience or financial guarantees like bid bonds.

However, President Ruto, who was at the same event, did not directly respond to the Senator’s request, even as more government parastatals have been accused of employing corrupt practices.

Last year, following anti-government protests by Gen Z, President Ruto announced the formation of key Presidential Task Force to investigate graft allegations within his government.

Among them was the Presidential Taskforce on the Forensic Audit of Public Debt, which was tasked with auditing Kenya’s debt status and recommending proposals on how to reduce the public debt.

In a gazette notice dated July 5, last year, the task force was further mandated to scrutinise Kenya’s debt management practices and ensure transparency and accountability in public finances.

However, political analysts have argued that some of the task forces established in the past have not contributed to the country’s progress, as their reports and recommendations often end up gathering dust without any subsequent action.