[kictanet] State cancels the Laptop Project tender process?

[Walubengo J]

NAIROBI, KENYA: The Government has now cancelled the Laptop Project tender for schools over a budget deficit as bidders exceeded the budgetary projections.

Education Cabinet Secretary Prof Jacob Kaimenyi announced that the tender process was canceled as lowest bidder quoted Ksh 32B against an anticipated budget of Ksh 20B.

read more @
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000095732&story_title=jubilee-laptop-project-halted

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Not sure if it is true but I think Kenyans need to ask serious questions on this.  We cannot spend our time and effort putting forward ideas on how to best implement a high-risk project and then suddenly we are told it is over...kapput.. finito..go home. just like that!

For example If money is the problem why not modify the project to fit 20B the budget?  I still think 20B would be sufficient if this project was tilted and tweaked towards the form1 student labs or even university students.  The idea was noble and timely but execution and target audience for me (not Yawe :-) has always been doubtful. 

Right now we are told suppliers asked  for 32B Ksh and but we had 20B so cancel the project, no questions asked and perhaps wait for 2-3yrs later to read from the Auditor General about how the 20B was (mis?)used.

I think the CS for ICT should make a pitch to salvage the project in the modified form - assuming ofcourse the project was truly intended.

walu.