Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has achieved remarkable success in its efforts to promote inclusivity in government procurement by awarding a record Sh4.15 billion in tenders to businesses owned by youth, women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) during the last financial year. This achievement represents a significant leap from the previous year’s Sh472 million, exceeding the company’s initial target of Sh1.2 billion under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) initiative.
AGPO is a government program aimed at empowering marginalized groups by offering them more opportunities to engage in business with public entities. The initiative mandates that 30% of government procurement be set aside for these groups, providing them with much-needed access to economic opportunities and fostering a more inclusive business environment. KPLC’s performance in the last financial year is a testament to the effectiveness of the program in supporting these groups.
John Ngeno, KPLC’s General Manager for Supply Chain and Logistics, attributed the company’s impressive performance to a concerted effort in sensitizing target groups about procurement opportunities. “During the last financial year, 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% absorption of our annual AGPO budget as more Kenyans become aware of these opportunities,” said Ngeno.
Youth-owned businesses were the biggest beneficiaries, securing Sh3.8 billion of the total value, followed by women-owned businesses at Sh324 million, and PWDs, who received Sh1.3 million. KPLC’s success is largely attributed to its focus on tender categories that are not highly technical, such as the supply of locally available materials, common user items, works, and cleaning services, which are more accessible to smaller businesses.
Looking ahead, KPLC has set its sights on an even more ambitious target for the current financial year, aiming to award Sh11.6 billion in AGPO tenders to youth, women, and PWDs. The company plans to continue its efforts to engage these groups through sensitization workshops, increased publicity of available opportunities, and collaboration with financial institutions to provide the necessary support to enable their active participation.
KPLC’s progress is a significant step toward fostering inclusivity in Kenya’s procurement processes and highlights the positive impact of the AGPO initiative on empowering marginalized communities.
