The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has interrogated the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) on recent re-advertisement of a Contract that is subject to an ongoing probe.

Under the leadership of Chairperson Hon. David Pkosing, Members asked KRA to explain why it had put out a notice calling for expression of interest on a contract which is subject of an audit query before the Committee.

The KRA advert called for expression of interest for the supply, delivery, installation, commissioning and maintenance of the Integrated Excisable Goods Management System (EGMS). The system is customized to help KRA track and trace all goods that attract excise duty.

Queries on the Kshs.4.5 billion EGMS, had been cited on KRA's audited accounts between the 2015/2016 and remained unresolved to the 2020/2021 Financial Year. The issue also emerged during an earlier appearance by KRA before the Committee.

The Auditor General said the Contract had at the time been single sourced without justification.

However, ahead of KRA's second meeting with the Committee, the Authority put the advert out for expression of interest.

Hon. Pkosing, asked KRA Acting Commissioner General Ms. Rispah Simiyu, to explain whether the recent re-advertisement had been crafted to divert the Committee's attention on the query.

"Are you doing this to deliberately frustrate and confuse this Committee and the Members?" posed Hon. Pkosing.

In her response, Ms. Simiyu said the advert had been put out cognizant of timelines for expiry of the Contract for current system under use.

Members resolved to undertake further probe to bring closure to the controversies surrounding the issue.