A senior official from the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) has testified in court that the award of a Sh42 million tender for rig move services was conducted in full compliance with the law. Pamela Ouma, the Chief Officer of Supply Chain at GDC and a member of the tender committee, defended the procurement process during her appearance at the anti-corruption court on Monday. She stated that all legal requirements were adhered to, and there was no justification for rejecting the report that led to the tender’s approval.
Ouma emphasized that the tender was properly budgeted for and aligned with GDC’s procurement plan. She confirmed that the process followed the Public Procurement and Disposal Act of 2006, including advertising the tender in local newspapers, conducting a transparent tender opening, and recording minutes of the proceedings. “The award was made in accordance with the law,” she asserted.
The case involves three accused individuals Nicholas Weke, Peter Omenda, and Caleb Mbayi who are charged with violating Regulation 10(2)(e) of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act. They are accused of unlawfully approving the Sh42 million tender to Bonafide Clearing and Forwarding Company at an allegedly inflated cost. The tender was for rig movement services related to GDC’s Menengai geothermal project.
Ouma clarified that the accused did not participate in the tender evaluation process, distancing them from the technical aspects of the decision. When questioned about whether the Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA) had published market prices for rig move services, Ouma stated that she had not seen any such document at the time. She explained that the PPOA typically publishes market prices for standard goods and services but noted that she was not part of the evaluation committee and could not comment on the specific market rates for this tender.
The prosecution alleges that the rig movement costs were artificially inflated, leading to the charges against Weke, Omenda, and Mbayi. Ouma’s testimony sought to reinforce the legality of the tender process, but the court will ultimately determine whether the accused acted unlawfully in awarding the contract. The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of public procurement practices in Kenya, particularly in high-value projects like GDC’s Menengai initiative.
