President William Ruto has reiterated his administration’s commitment to fully digitising government procurement, insisting that resistance from within will not derail the reform.
Speaking during a church service at Saint Peter’s ACK Cathedral in Alego Usonga, Siaya County, on Sunday, the President said the newly introduced e-procurement platform will be the sole channel for all public purchases going forward.
“Procurement and accounting officers do not want this programme because they have been benefiting from the old system. No amount of blackmail and intimidation will force us to go back on the electronic procurement. Any government official who is not willing to use it can resign and pursue other interests,” he declared.
The e-procurement system, launched in July 2025, is designed to promote efficiency, transparency, and accountability. According to Ruto, digitisation will allow Kenyans to track how much government pays for goods and services, and to whom.
The President also drew parallels with the Social Health Authority’s digital platforms, which he said have already helped detect fraudsters attempting to exploit the new health coverage scheme. He blamed weak systems at the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) for the accumulation of a KSh30 billion debt and vowed that pending claims would only be honoured after thorough verification.
On development, Ruto outlined major investments underway in Siaya County. The government is spending KSh24 billion this financial year on 8,000 affordable housing units, 18 new markets, and 11,000-bed student hostels. Road funding in the county has risen fivefold from KSh500 million in 2024 to KSh2.5 billion this year, with an additional KSh1.5 billion expected. Nationally, KSh300 billion from locally raised funds will be used to complete stalled roads and launch new projects.
Other allocations include KSh1.8 billion to connect 14,000 households to electricity, KSh550 million for modernising Siaya stadium, and KSh500 million for a hospital in Siaya town. The Kenya Ports Authority will also build a pier and market in Usenge.
Ruto further acknowledged opposition leader Raila Odinga for supporting the broad-based government, saying unity would enable Kenyans to achieve more collectively.
