Safran Morpho;why Mps are blocking the french firm from data tender accruing to 3b

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A French Safran Morpho is not new to Kenya having been involved in the recent elections where if supplied the controveril KIEMS, the  firm in the controversial procurement of election materials worth billions of shillings risks missing out on a Sh3 billion identity data tender.

Members of National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee yesterday accused directors of Safran Morpho of snubbing their investigations into procurement of the materials and services by IEBC.

The team, chaired by Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, said it would not hesitate to ban Safran Morpho from doing business with State agencies.

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The biometrics and digital giant is said to be one of the bidders for the lucrative tender for digital registration system that will create a national population register.

Other companies said to have bid for the same tender include Coppernic and Credence ID.

“We have enough teeth and that will be demonstrated when writing our report. They will have to appear on February 18. If they fail, we’ll surely pronounce ourselves on them,” PAC chairman Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja) said.

Rarieda MP Otiendo Amollo, a member of the oversight committee, said the company had acted in contempt and urged the committee to consider blacklisting it.

“This is an instance of an open defiance by the firm on public accountability. We should consider imposing fine against them, but that fine is also not enough. They should be barred from doing business in the country,” he said.

“They cannot be readily available when signing contracts but remain shadowy when asked to account for their dealings.”

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The firm, re-branded IDEMIA following a merger of Oberthur Technologies and Safran Identity & Security (Morpho), has reportedly placed a bid for the tender that seeks to collate personal data under one system by capturing all biometrics.

The data is expected to be used in the August population census.IEBC awarded the firm a tender worth  more than Sh4 billion to supply the 45,000 Kenya Integrated Election Management System kits used in the August 8, 2017 polls, and another ShSh2.5 billion for the repeat presidential election on October 26.

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo said: “They cannot be readily available when signing contracts but remain shadowy when asked to account for their dealings.”

The coming year is therefore important for the Kenya Bureau of Statistics will be expected to conduct a national census to update its records for the basis of equitable distribution of revenue and planning.

The last time such a national exercise was carried out in 2009, there was a lot of complains as a result of allegations that the population in some areas was exaggerated, leading to distortion of the formula used by the central government in revenue allocation.

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                                         Zachary Mwangi

The last time such a national exercise was carried out in 2009, there was a lot of complains as a result of allegations that the population in some areas was exaggerated, leading to distortion of the formula used by the central government in revenue allocation.

The squabbles arising from the census led to protracted legal battles and in some instances, regions were shelved. The exercise was further shrouded by political intrigues and was the basis of delimitation of constituency boundaries.

Projections by KBS Director General, Zachary Mwangi, are that this exercise planned to take place on the night of August 24 and 25 will cost the taxpayer Sh18.5 billion.

The 2019 census, Kenyans hope will provide a tool for equitable distribution of resources and provide a key plank for the government as it prepares policies and development programs that will propel the nation in the next ten years.

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