Technical officers will undergo training aimed at integrating the procurement and asset Management within the Integrated Financial Management Information system (IFMIS). The training is part of government efforts to digitize all services and enhance service delivery for all.
The Business Process Re-engineering to be implemented countrywide, will see the procurement module incorporated within IFMIS thereby speeding up the procurement process and effectively addressing and eliminating the headache associated with the recurrent pending bills for government in every financial year.
Speaking during the launch of the IFMIS Inventory Module training for ICT, Accounts, Finance, Audit and Supply Chain officers from the Executive Office of the President (EOP) in Athi River, the Director, Administration in the Office of the Deputy President, Mr. Leonard Ngaluma, commended the National Treasury for identifying the gaps that challenged proper implementation of IFMIS.
The improved system aligned to the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, 2012 will see effective management of inventory while reducing government vulnerability to accusations of mismanagement. The government has continued to take a beating as its systems have remained manual effectively facilitating corruption. Previous efforts at addressing this vulnerability in the procurement system have seen many officers suspended without adequately addressing systemic challenges.
Government processes incorporated in the IFMIS structure include planning, budgeting, accounting, financial reporting and audit. It is anticipated that once all officers are trained on automation of the procurement and assets and inventory modules, the entire IFMIS structure will be completed.
The introduction of the iSupplier, iProcurement and inventory web based systems will facilitate efficient and effective execution of all financial management processes for government thereby eliminating risks, enhancing security and financial controls in all service areas including providing inter-connectivity of county government units.
The re-modified IFMIS will enhance transparency in tracking delivery of goods and tracking payment status for suppliers through the self-service processes. It will also be able to create invoices and initiate delivery while automating the goods inspection process. The invoice tracking solution is an enhancement of the iSupplier portal that seeks to improve transparency and information flow to suppliers. Further, a digital channel will be embedded in the system to allow suppliers query the status of the payments, deliveries and validating their purchase orders through SMS or USSD.
The improved system will see the development of timed projections in line with approved annual budgets while identifying gaps in cash resources early enough to allow for short –term borrowing. It is projected to enable timely disbursements to MDAs while reducing idle cash balances in the MDAs bank accounts.
Mr. Ngaluma reiterated that officers were committed towards the success of the programme expected to go live from July 1, 2023 which marks the start of the government’s new financial year. The EOP comprises the Presidency, Office of the Deputy President and the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
By Irene Agum
