Standard Correspondent
8 May 2004
Nairobi — The Kenya Ports Authority has defended the awarding of the controversial Sh1.5 billion crane tender to a Chinese firm.
Transport permanent secretary Gerrishon Ikiara, the authority's managing director Brown Ondego and the chairman Aboud Rafrouf said the firm, ZPMC, had won the tender in a fair manner.
Ondego said he would travel to China next week to sign the tender contract with the said firm.
Ikiara said the tender process was conducted in a transparent and accountable manner and ZPMC gave the most competitive bid compared to the other bidders.
He refuted reports that the awarding of the tender was influenced by some powerful individuals.
"There is nothing to hide. We were not used as rubber stamps as some people claimed," he said.
The PS added that he had grilled the KPA tendering board to ensure that the process was done fairly.
Speaking at the port yesterday, Ondego said the Chinese firm was one of the best crane makers in the world, adding that it supplied cranes to leading ports globally.
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