The phrase “It’s our turn to eat” has become emblematic of the concerns surrounding conflict of interest and favoritism in government projects under President William Ruto’s administration.
Various mega-projects, valued in billions of shillings, have increasingly raised questions about the involvement of politically connected individuals and relatives of government officials, highlighting a culture of tenderpreneurship the acquisition of lucrative government tenders by influential insiders.
One of the major developments that fueled these concerns is the handling of the Conflict of Interest Bill.
The bill initially aimed to limit public officers from benefiting financially from their official roles.
However, senators many allied with the Kenya Kwanza coalition amended the bill to dilute its restrictions, allowing public officers and their families to engage in business with government entities.
This revision has sparked a public outcry and led to accusations that these changes enable public officials to use their positions for personal gain.
Several high-profile cases illustrate these issues.
For example, Belgut MP Nelson Koech’s spouse was recently awarded a 1.2 billion shilling contract for road repairs, drawing criticism as a conflict of interest due to Koech’s political influence.
Additionally, Mary Wambui, the Communications Authority (CA) Chairperson, has been linked to multiple government contracts through companies associated with her family.
One of her firms won a substantial contract for the laying of fiber optic cables under the Kenya Kwanza administration’s digital superhighway project, which is a major component of President Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
Such cases have fueled concerns about nepotism and favoritism, suggesting that Ruto’s administration has, at times, disregarded public procurement laws meant to ensure transparency.
These issues have led to mounting public frustration, especially as Ruto’s campaign promises included a commitment to end state capture and the misuse of government resources for personal gain, promises that now seem to be overshadowed by actions that contradict this stance.
The broader implications of this situation are massive.
Allowing government officials and their affiliates to benefit from public tenders not only undermines public trust but also risks diverting resources from the most impactful uses.
While the digital superhighway and other infrastructure projects have the potential to drive economic growth, their success may be compromised by the inefficiencies and corruption often associated with conflicts of interest.
The effectiveness of these projects will hinge on whether the government can enact stronger measures to counteract these conflicts and ensure that resources benefit the public equitably.
As pressure mounts from various sectors, the government is facing calls for accountability and stricter oversight.
The real challenge will be whether reforms to curb conflicts of interest are genuinely implemented, or if political connections continue to shape the allocation of Kenya’s public resources.
