Kenyan Linux Group Challenges Government Procurement Policies

Governments in Africa may soon have to think twice about doing deals with private, closed-source software development companies. Linux developers in Kenya have taken a stand demanding that the government rethink policies that forgo local developers for big corporate groups that offer huge deals to win bids…

After losing out on many software tenders to the government, the Linux Professional Association (LPA) will engage the Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA) in Kenya over procurement rules, according to the association chairman.

The association members have been locked out of government tenders because the requests for proposals are usually skewed toward Microsoft products, therefore locking out open-source software developed locally, says LPA Chairman Evans Ikua.

LPA will hold meetings with the PPOA to alert it about the implementation of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act (2005) and how it does not give open-source developers a chance to present their products to government ministries.

Via Linux World