- Hillary Muhalya says AGPO offers youth and women a pathway into government business.
- The programme opens procurement opportunities for eligible enterprises across different sectors.
- TSC sensitisation meetings aim to help entrepreneurs understand how to access public tenders.
The Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) programme offers young people, women and persons with disabilities an important pathway into government business, opening doors to public tenders, enterprise expansion, employment creation and long-term financial independence.
It is one of Kenya’s key economic empowerment initiatives, designed to give youth, women and persons with disabilities a greater opportunity to participate in government procurement. Through the programme, the government seeks to address economic inequalities by reserving at least 30 per cent of public procurement opportunities for enterprises owned by these groups.
For thousands of entrepreneurs operating small and medium-sized businesses, AGPO presents a chance to move beyond ordinary commercial transactions and become suppliers of goods and services to government institutions. It is particularly significant for young people and women who possess business ideas, entrepreneurial skills and the capacity to deliver services but often struggle to access lucrative markets. Limited financial resources, business networks and information about government tenders stand in their way.
One of the greatest benefits of AGPO is that it creates a structured opportunity for eligible enterprises to compete for government contracts. Public institutions regularly procure stationery, furniture, computers, printing services, cleaning materials, construction services, transport and other essential supplies. Through AGPO, qualifying businesses can position themselves to participate in these procurement opportunities, provided they meet the requirements of individual tenders.
For young entrepreneurs, the programme is especially timely. Youth unemployment remains an important economic challenge in Kenya, and AGPO provides an avenue to establish businesses, pursue government contracts and create employment rather than depending entirely on formal jobs. Successful participation in government procurement can help young business owners expand their operations, acquire equipment, employ workers and develop sustainable enterprises.
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Women entrepreneurs stand to gain as well. AGPO offers them an opportunity to strengthen their participation in the formal economy. Women-owned businesses can use the programme to access procurement opportunities, increase their revenue, build financial independence and expand their contribution to household and national economic development. The initiative also recognises the importance of giving women greater access to markets traditionally dominated by larger and more established businesses.
Beyond individual owners, government contracts can provide businesses with a wider market for their products and services. When an enterprise secures a contract, it may need additional employees, transport services, storage facilities and other operational support. This creates opportunities beyond the business owner and contributes to employment creation within local communities. The benefits can extend to suppliers, distributors, manufacturers and other small enterprises involved in the supply chain.
AGPO is also important in promoting economic opportunities beyond major commercial centres such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru. Entrepreneurs in rural counties can position their businesses to supply public institutions within their regions, helping circulate government expenditure within local economies. This matters most for young people and women in counties where formal employment opportunities are limited and access to large commercial markets remains challenging.
Participation in government procurement can also help businesses establish a track record, improve their professional standards and strengthen their credibility. Consistent performance in supplying goods and services can improve an enterprise’s reputation and potentially open doors to other commercial opportunities. However, businesses must maintain proper financial records, comply with tax obligations, deliver quality products and observe contractual requirements.
This is why the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) November 2026 sensitisation meetings matter. They provide an important opportunity for youth and women entrepreneurs to understand how they can access procurement opportunities within the education sector.
As a major public institution, TSC requires different categories of goods and services to support its operations. The meetings are expected to familiarise interested entrepreneurs with procurement procedures, registration requirements, tender documentation and the steps involved in participating in government business.
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For entrepreneurs in counties such as West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Turkana, the meeting on November 23, 2026 at Wareng High School in Uasin Gishu offers a chance to obtain information closer to their regions. Interested business owners have been directed to submit their particulars to TSC’s Supply Chain Management Services through ddprocurement@tsc.go.ke.
Even so, entrepreneurs should understand that obtaining an AGPO certificate does not automatically guarantee a government contract. Businesses must satisfy the eligibility requirements, prepare proper documentation, submit competitive bids and meet the specifications outlined in individual procurement advertisements. They must also demonstrate the ability to supply goods or deliver services within the agreed timelines and contractual conditions.
AGPO should therefore be viewed as more than a government registration initiative. It is an economic empowerment mechanism that can help transform small enterprises into established businesses, create employment, promote financial independence and widen participation in Kenya’s economic development.
For young people and women with viable business ideas, the opportunity lies not merely in obtaining an AGPO certificate but in learning how to turn the programme into a sustainable source of business growth.
By Hillary Muhalya
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