Questions as Kenya Power awards meter tender to company yet to deliver on 2020 bid

The public procurement regulator now wants the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) to explain how a firm that has yet to deliver the meters it was ordered to in 2020 was included in a recent tender to procure thousands of smart meters.

In a letter addressed to KPLC, the board says that the company has an order of 91,000 meters that was to be delivered on July 24, 2020, but none has allegedly been delivered as evidenced in a purchase order report availed for review.

“Based on the tender data sheet ITT 3.7 (2) and ITT 40 (20 (c), bidders with more than 50 per cent outstanding KPLC orders were not eligible for the tender and award was to take into consideration timely delivery schedules and satisfactory performance of at least 50 per cent delivery on previous orders,” Mr Patrick Wanjuki, the director-general PPRA said in the letter.

Smart Meters Technology Ltd was among the four local companies awarded the 5.4 billion shillings to tender to deliver 711,740 meters.

Wanjuki made the observations in a complaint made to the board by Benedict Kabugi over alleged breaches in the tender.

Other firms awarded the tender are Inhemeter Africa Company Ltd., Yocan Group Ltd. and Magnate Ventures Ltd.

“In view of the foregoing, you are required to make further responses to the observations made above taking into consideration the financial impact in relation to award criteria applied by your entity to enable us to conclude our review,” Wanjuki added.

KPLC has until October 4 to respond to the letter.