NAIROBI - President Kibaki  has directed that all Public offices (including Civil Service and Parastatals) purchase Kenyan- made furniture and other associated items, so as to support the growth of the manufacturing industry and enhance employment creation.

  The Government is the biggest spender in our country and this directive will ensure that 500 million shillings will be pumped into the local economy.

Government officials are encouraged to buy high quality furniture and other locally made items, directly from Jua Kali artisans, manufacturers and shops and to avoid using middlemen who inflate the cost of the items. It is important that tax payers’ money be used diligently and value for money achieved.

Procurement officers who undertake purchases that rip off the Government and tax payers’ money will be held accountable for those purchases.

In addition, in a bid to enhance efficiency, transparency and to reduce corruption, the President has also directed that Government offices adopt open-space type of configuration. This will encourage sharing of resources and enable all offices to be aware of all transactions being undertaken in public offices.

The Head of Public Service has issued circulars to this effect and no exceptions to these rules will be allowed.

The Government is also keen to ensure that the country gets a new constitution as per the set schedule. Therefore,  President has stopped all Ministers and Assistant Ministers from travel outside the country so as to allow them to be available for parliamentary debate on the draft constitution.
 

Source: Govr Spokesperson