Two men have been charged with fraud and forgery over a fake laptops supply tender to Deputy President William Ruto's office.
Daily Nation was first to report on Friday, March 13 that Charles Musinga and Solomon Mwema had been accused of attempting to defraud the DP’s office by alleging they could supply laptops valued at Ksh180 million.
The duo, however, denied the charges.
On August 22, 2018, Citizen Digital reported of a similar case where one Teddy Awiti along with three other accomplices tried to defraud DP Ruto's office, alleging they could supply 2,800 pieces of HP laptops valued at Ksh180 million.
The offence is reported to have been committed between June 1 and August 12, 2018.
“With intent to defraud by means of offering tender documents under the name of the office of the deputy president, the accused falsely pretended that he was carrying out a genuine tender business and that he was able to deliver 2,800 pieces of HP laptops valued at Ksh180 million to the office of the deputy president, a fact he knew to be false,” the charge sheet read in part.
Ruto's Harambee House Annexe has been the victim of a reported number of fraud cases.
This is despite the government's announcing that all procurement tenders be uploaded to the government portal.
"The Public Procurement Information Portal is an online platform provided by Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) for publication of contract awards and tender notices by Procuring Entities," reads a statement on its website.
In 2018, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered full public disclosure of details of government tenders on the portal.
“The Executive Order requires all government entities and public-owned institutions to publish full details of tenders and awards from July 1, 2018,” said a statement by former State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu.
“The publication will allow members of the public to access information, which shall include the items or services purchased, contract prices, and the particulars of the suppliers including owners, directors and beneficial ownership," he added.
