Nairobi, Jan. 23 -- Kenya has come a long way in formulating procurement laws. Public procurement in the country has been marred by allegations and counter-allegations of unethical practices despite the many reforms.

The spirit behind the reforms was to increase fairness, transparency and accountability, maximise economy and efficiency, promote competition and to increase public confidence in public procurement.

As the saying goes, old habits die hard. Lack of accountability and transparency, corruption, poor planning and lack of fair competition where the State manipulated procurement is creeping back, but this time through legislations such as the government-to-government (G-to-G) agreements, including the oil deal Kenya signed.

G-to...