AG’s Office berates state legal officers on contracts

By Francis Kajubi , The Guardian
Published at 11:57 AM Oct 17 2025
Samwel Maneno, the deputy attorney general
Photo: File
Samwel Maneno, the deputy attorney general

PUBLIC institutions must prioritize meticulous contract management to safeguard national investments, avoid costly legal disputes and ensure the government receives its deserved share of revenues and dividends.

Samwel Maneno, the deputy attorney general, in an address to state attorneys at the opening of a two-day strategic engagement meeting at the Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Kibaha, Coast Region.

Failures in contract oversight have led to unnecessary legal disputes and massive financial penalties for the state, he stated, underlining that contract management is a critical area for the Attorney General's (AG) Office.

The office is concerned with the sheer volume of agreements the central government handles as it an average of 20,000 contracts are entered in each financial year. That needs great caution to avoid legal disputes, he emphasized.

The government enters into long-term and short-term contracts with some agreements having lifespans of up to 40 years, straddling various phases of government, thus demanding thorough, collaborative monitoring by responsible legal officers, he said.

"We have learned from our findings that absence or delay in extending urgent professional advice for short and long-term contracts has led to unnecessary legal disputes with investors that must come to an end," he explained.

Remedy is being sought by developing links with the National e-Procurement System that enables the AG’s office and heads of institutions to verify contract implementation, thus legal officers need to avoid bureaucracy, embrace technology and focus on results-based performance in legal service delivery.

The meeting examined the position of key state legal stakeholders and their role in safeguarding public investment, coordinated by the Office of the Treasury Registrar (OTR).

Nehemiah Mchechu, the registrar, stressed strict contract management in view of explosive growth in the government investment portfolio, which requires closer contract management to avoid legal disruptions.

 Ally Possi, the solicitor general, affirmed the need to strengthen contract management, particularly in public-private partnerships (PPPs), as public institutions have a core responsibility to generate dividends and support national economic growth.

Onorius Njole, the chief parliamentary draftsman, pointed out that achieving a $1trn economy as envisaged in Vision 2050 largely depends on the strength of public institutions, urging a robust legal framework that keeps pace with economic realities.

“Public entities must be governed by investment laws that align with current needs. The legal framework must match the pace of investment growth within public corporations,” he declared.