A senior procurement officer at the Parliament of Kenya is facing scrutiny after a whistleblower exposed an alleged plot to illegally extend a lucrative medical insurance tender with Zamara, despite the firm’s poor performance and mounting complaints from parliamentary staff.
The explosive complaint, filed with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), accuses the Head of Procurement of abuse of office, attempted bribery, and violation of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act (PPADA).
If verified, the allegations would expose one of the most brazen procurement breaches within Parliament’s administration in recent years — a direct assault on transparency, accountability, and public trust.
Bribery Allegations and Secret Tender Extension Plot
According to the whistleblower’s report seen by CourtNews.co.ke, the procurement officer allegedly offered a cash bribe to a parliamentary insider to support the illegal tender extension.
The insider reportedly refused the offer and warned the officer that bypassing open competition would be a criminal offense under the PPADA. However, the procurement head allegedly continued with the plan in secrecy, confident of political protection within Parliament.
“This is an attempt to reward a non-performing contractor through an illegal backroom deal,” the report alleges.
Zamara’s Troubled Performance Record
Zamara, the current medical service provider for Parliament, has faced numerous complaints from employees and Members of Parliament over delayed claims, poor customer service, and failure to meet contractual obligations.
Instead of opening the tender to competition, the procurement boss allegedly lobbied senior administrators to renew Zamara’s contract, citing the need to “save time.”
Procurement experts, however, note that such shortcuts are illegal and expose institutions to corruption risks.
Violation of Procurement Law
Documents reviewed by insiders indicate that Zamara’s existing contract is nearing expiry.
Under Section 139 of the PPADA, any extension of a public tender must undergo formal evaluation, approval, and justification to ensure value for money.
The procurement officer, however, is accused of trying to bypass legal procedures by labeling the move as an “administrative continuation,” a loophole frequently abused to sustain corrupt deals in public offices.
The whistleblower’s report details a meeting where the procurement boss offered a cash bribe to secure internal approvals for the extension before oversight agencies could intervene.
EACC and Internal Pressure for Action
The whistleblower has called on EACC to urgently intervene and block the illegal contract renewal, investigate the officer’s conduct, and audit the entire Zamara engagement.
They have also requested whistleblower protection, citing fear of retaliation after exposing the corruption scheme.
Several parliamentary employees are said to be aware of the plan but afraid to speak out due to intimidation and job security threats.
“If the EACC fails to act, it will embolden corrupt officials to continue abusing the system,” a governance expert told CourtNews.co.ke. “This case is about more than one tender — it’s about restoring integrity to public procurement.”
Mounting Pressure on Parliamentary Leadership
The scandal has triggered internal discussions within Parliament, with calls for immediate suspension of the procurement officer pending investigation.
Transparency advocates insist that all future medical service contracts must undergo open and competitive bidding in line with procurement laws.
The case presents a crucial test for both EACC and Parliament’s leadership — whether they will act decisively against corruption within their ranks or allow political patronage to shield those implicated.
A Test of Integrity for Public Procurement
Analysts warn that this case exemplifies the wider rot in Kenya’s procurement system, where officials exploit loopholes to reward preferred firms despite dismal performance.
If proven, the illegal extension of Zamara’s contract would represent a serious breach of the PPADA and a betrayal of public trust.
For now, all eyes are on EACC and the Parliamentary Service Commission as the nation waits to see whether justice will be done — or whether impunity will once again prevail under the dome of Parliament.