Businesses owned by youth, women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) secured tenders worth Ksh.4.15 billion from Kenya Power during the 2023/24 financial year.
This figure surpassed the company’s Ksh.1.2 billion target set under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) program for the year ending June 30, 2024.
In the preceding 2022/23 fiscal year, Kenya Power had awarded Ksh.472 million in tenders to the same groups, marking a significant growth in the uptake of AGPO opportunities.
Kenya Power’s General Manager for Supply Chain and Logistics, Dr. John Ngeno, attributed this improvement to the company’s ongoing efforts to educate and engage these groups about procurement opportunities.
“We sustained education forums for the special interest groups on how to participate in our procurement process. The uptake has been steady over the years owing to these engagements, and we hope to sustain 100 percent absorption of our annual AGPO budget as more Kenyans become aware of these opportunities,” stated Dr. Ngeno.
Under the AGPO category, Kenya Power awards tenders for less technical items and services such as the supply of locally available materials, cleaning services, and other common user items.
In 2023/24, youth-owned businesses took the largest share of AGPO tenders, amounting to Ksh.3.8 billion. Women-owned businesses secured Ksh.324 million, while PWD-owned businesses received Ksh.1.3 million.
Dr. Ngeno emphasized Kenya Power’s commitment to fostering inclusivity in its procurement processes, with a renewed focus on empowering women and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
“Through AGPO, we aim to foster inclusivity in our procurement processes. Going forward, our focus will be more on persons with disabilities and women. Through tailored engagements, we want to ensure that they participate actively in our procurement as is the case with the youth,” he said.
Kenya Power has set an ambitious target of awarding Ksh.11.6 billion in AGPO tenders to youth, women, and PWD-owned businesses in the current financial year. The utility company remains optimistic about increasing participation and absorption of these opportunities among special interest groups.
