National Assembly’s Public Account Committee (PAC) got the rage on monday after directors of OT-Morpho, now known as Idemia skipped summons to give details on the issues raised by the Auditor-General’s report concerning 2017 elections.
The question that many are now eagerly waiting to hear is; what could be the reason for the firm’s decision to snub the summons?
The Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission is said to controversially award the the then OT-Morpho a sh 4.2 billion tender for supplying 45,000 Kenya Integrated Management System (KIEMS) kits that were used in the last elections.
It can be remembered that the tender created a sharp divisions among the seven commissioners and former Chief executive officer, Ezra Chiloba, who later was sacked by the Chebukati.
The IEBC further awarded the French firm another tender for the October 26, 2017 repeat presidential election after the nullification of the August 8 results by the Supreme Court.
But when the watchdog committee led by Opiyo Wandayi wanted to inquire more, the firm snubbed the sermon.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo asked why the firm was readily available to sign the contract but not ready to account for public money.
“On account of defiance on public accountability, they must be barred from being awarded tenders in the country,” Mr Amollo said on the understanding that the Sh500, 000 a witness is required to pay in fines for skipping a parliamentary committee session, is a slap on the wrist.
“It has benefited from multi-billion tenders in the country and continues to do so. We must bring them from the shadows and bring them to account,” he said.
However, the MPs agreed to give the company another chance to appear before them.
“On a matter of appearance before this committee, there is no exception. If they don’t appear, as a committee we will make our recommendations to the House in the best way we know,” Mr Wandayi said.