Kenya Power awards Sh4.15 billion in tenders to marginalised groups

Kenya Power has exceeded its target for awarding tenders to youth, women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the 2023/2024 financial year, allocating a total of Sh4.15 billion.

This marks a significant increase from the Sh472 million set aside for these groups the previous year.

The youth sector received the largest portion, securing Sh3.8 billion in contracts, while women-owned businesses and PWDs earned Sh324 million and Sh1.3 million, respectively.

John Ngenyo, Kenya Power’s General Manager for Supply Chain and Logistics, explained that this achievement stemmed from the company’s continuous efforts to educate and engage these groups on how to navigate the procurement system.

“We sustained education forums for youth, women, and persons with disabilities on how to navigate our procurement system,” Ngenyo said.

The tenders, primarily focused on non-technical services such as the supply of locally available materials and cleaning contracts, fall under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) programme.

This initiative aims to promote inclusivity in public procurement.

As part of its commitment to these groups, Kenya Power has partnered with financial institutions to offer the necessary support for them to meet the financial requirements for securing contracts.

The company also plans to expand its outreach efforts, including more workshops, pre-bid conferences, and greater publicity for AGPO opportunities.

“Through AGPO, we aim to foster inclusivity in our procurement processes,” said Ngenyo.

"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.”

Kenya Power’s strategy indicates a growing commitment to enabling more inclusive access to business opportunities within the energy sector.