Telecommunications equipment supplier Tetra Radio has claimed it was awarded a similar security surveillance deal by Kenya Police in 2001 to the one recently agreed with Safaricom, and claims that deal is still valid.
HumanIPO reported last week Safaricom’s security surveillance tender award had been approved by Kenya’s Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA), after parliament had originally frozen the contract for the US$141 million security system until an enquiry into the deal’s legality was completed after a number of members of parliament (MPs) questioned the deal.
The Business Daily reports Tetra Radio insists its 2001 deal with the government is still valid.
“We will not hesitate to move to court to sue the CAK (Communications Authority of Kenya) or the government if it awards the frequencies to any other person or body,” Tetra Radio chief executive Jacqueline Mwai told the House committee on Monday evening.
The firm holds that the government will be acting in contempt of court if it awards the frequencies or the licence to any other operator.
Tetra Radio in 2001 made a bid of US$5.2 million to roll out a radio network on frequency range between 370 MHZ to 470 MHZ for the national police service, but alleges the regulator refused to receive the first installments of the money, saying the frequency was not available.
In 2011, a High Court directed CAK to award Tetra Radio the frequencies, but the regulator filed an appeal and the hearing is due on September 18.
