Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has rejected the new Electronic Government Procurement (eGP) system, arguing that it will negatively impact Kenyans in the Small and medium-sized enterprises/businesses (SMEs) sector.
Speaking on Wednesday, September 3, Natembeya alleged that the system would plunge low-income Kenyans into more poverty.
He argued that the digital rollout would disproportionately benefit well-connected individuals while locking out grassroots traders and small-scale businesses looking for government tenders. ''The e-procurement is going to bring immense poverty, one that has never been seen before.
Those people at the bottom, those who are supposed to be empowered, are not well exposed to technology, most of them don't have smartphones, and the system is complicated'' Natembeya explained.
