Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) has rolled out a sensitization drive to train over 2,000 youth, women and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) who own businesses, as a move to promote the uptake of the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO).
Addressing participants during the sensitization forum in Kisumu, KPC acting General Manager Supply Chain Maureen Mwenje said the initiative seeks to sensitize the special groups on procurement processes.
“From July 2022 to date, we awarded tenders worth Ks419 million to the AGPO group,” she said, adding that the move demonstrates KPC’s commitment to promoting fairness and inclusivity in public tenders and contracts, as well as supporting the growth and development of the targeted groups’ owned enterprises.
Mwenje added: “Most of the youth who complain about lack of jobs do not know about the available opportunities to supply goods and services to the government. Through these awareness campaigns, we target to educate existing AGPO suppliers as well as the youth, women and PWDs interested in establishing a business partnership with KPC to take up the tenders,”
She emphasized that the programme is in compliance with the government’s policy of empowering the marginalized sections of society to access at least 30 per cent of government tenders and contracts.
The general manager said KPC has partnered with several banks to customize financial products for the special groups in an effort to increase their participation and understanding of the e-procurement system.
“The youth, women and PWDs owned ventures lack capital and have no access to loans to enable them supply the services and goods they have been contracted. So far, KPC is providing letters of undertaking where necessary and we have also engaged various banks to provide them with financial support,” Mwenje stated.
She further pointed out that KPC offers a range of non-technical to technical services including consultancy and cleaning services, supply and deliveries of laptops, staff uniforms, office stationeries, ICT equipment, company branded merchandise as well as mechanical and electrical items for these groups.
The Company is holding sensitization workshops for the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) owned by youth, women and PWDs in Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret and Nairobi regions.
Participants are sensitized on the registration process and the use of the e-procurement portal to place bids, the various tender requirements, eligibility criteria, payment procedures as well as the legal and regulatory framework in order to improve the responsiveness of their tender document.
By Fredrick Odiero
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