Kenya Power, on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, announced that youth, women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) were the largest beneficiaries of its tenders during the 2023/2024 financial year.
In a press release, the utility company revealed that businesses owned by these groups were awarded tenders worth KSh 4.15 billion.
“Businesses owned by youth, women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) took up tenders worth KSh 4.15 billion from Kenya Power during the last financial year, which ended on June 30, 2024,” the statement read.
The company further noted that youth-owned businesses secured the largest share of the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) tenders, accounting for Ksh 3.8 billion of the total value.
Youth, Women and PWDs Biggest beneficiaries in Kenya Power tenders in 2023/2024 financial year
This figure significantly exceeded the company’s annual AGPO target of Ksh 1.2 billion.
Kenya Power highlighted that in the previous financial year, which ended on June 30, 2023, it had awarded tenders worth KSh 472 million to the same groups.
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Dr. John Ngeno, Kenya Power’s General Manager for Supply Chain and Logistics, attributed the remarkable uptake to the company’s targeted efforts to raise awareness among these groups about procurement opportunities.
“During the last financial year, we sustained education forums for special interest groups to guide them on how to participate in our procurement processes.
The steady uptake over the years is a result of these engagements, and we aim to achieve 100% absorption of our annual AGPO budget as more Kenyans become aware of these opportunities,” said Dr. Ngeno.
About AGPO tenders
Under the AGPO initiative, Kenya Power awards non-technical tenders, including the supply of locally available materials, common user items, services, and works such as cleaning services.
Youth-owned businesses took up the majority of AGPO tenders, valued at KSh 3.8 billion, followed by women-owned businesses at KSh 324 million, and businesses owned by PWDs at KSh 1.3 million.
“Through AGPO, we aim to foster inclusivity in our procurement processes. Moving forward, we will focus more on encouraging women and persons with disabilities to actively participate, just as the youth have done. Tailored engagements will be key in achieving this,” added Dr. Ngeno.
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He also emphasized the company’s commitment to collaborating with financial institutions to link the interest groups with financial support, facilitating their participation in procurement processes.
Additional efforts will include sensitization workshops, pre-bid conferences to enhance knowledge during the tendering period, increased publicity of AGPO opportunities, and prompt payment for suppliers to strengthen their cash flow.
For the current financial year, Kenya Power is targeting to award tenders worth KSh 11.6 billion under the AGPO program to the three special interest groups.
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