Radio personality Alex Mwakideu has thrown his support behind President William Ruto’s push for the full adoption of the government’s e-procurement system, describing it as a key step toward transparency and accountability in public procurement.
Speaking on air on September 1, 2025, Mwakideu praised the President’s firm stance that there will be “no going back” on the reforms, adding that anyone unwilling to embrace the digital system should step aside. According to him, the move to digitise procurement processes is long overdue and essential for ensuring that Kenyans know who is awarded government tenders and the reasons behind those decisions.
“Rais amesema, there is no going back on e-procurement. Kama hutaki, toka kwa serikali. Amesema ni digitali. Kama hutaki, toka kwa serikali. Mimi naunga mkono. Finya kabisa, tujue ni nani ambaye amepewa hiyo tender na mbona yeye amepewa tender. We want to know why,” Mwakideu stated.
Highlighting the longstanding challenges of corruption in government procurement, Mwakideu argued that e-procurement will streamline processes and make it more difficult for individuals to manipulate tender awards for personal gain. He emphasised that citizens will be empowered to access information on government contracts, question irregularities, and hold leaders accountable, calling transparency in tenders the first step toward dismantling entrenched corruption networks.
“Finya kabisa,” he reiterated, stressing that the digital system should be enforced strictly to ensure that only deserving companies win tenders based on merit.
Mwakideu’s endorsement aligns with the government’s insistence that the e-Government Procurement System (e-GPS) is mandatory for all public institutions. President Ruto has described the platform as central to his administration’s fight against graft while enhancing efficiency in service delivery. The National Treasury has already warned state agencies that failure to adopt the system will attract punitive measures.
While critics have raised concerns over infrastructure gaps in remote areas, Mwakideu argued that resistance to the reform largely stems from individuals benefiting from opaque tender processes. His support adds a strong, independent voice to the ongoing public debate on digitalising government procurement, reinforcing the call for transparency, accountability, and merit-based awarding of contracts.
