By Editor
Kenya Power has reported a 470 percent increase in tenders taken up by businesses owned by youth, women, and persons living with disabilities (PWDs), awarding contracts worth KSh 3.5 billion in the financial year ending June 30, 2025. This marks a significant rise from the KSh 614 million awarded in the previous financial year, making the 2024/25 performance the highest in eight years and underscoring the Company’s commitment to inclusive procurement and economic empowerment.
“Last year, we were intentional in meeting and sensitizing the youth, women, and PWDs about procurement opportunities that exist for them within the Company. Our efforts have led to these impressive results,” said Dr. John Ngeno, Kenya Power’s General Manager for Supply Chain and Logistics.
Youth, women, and PWDs are recognized as special bidder categories under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) Framework, which requires all public entities to allocate 30 percent of their annual procurement budget to these groups.
During the last financial year, youth-owned enterprises received the largest share, securing KSh 2.2 billion, followed by women-owned businesses at KSh 1.25 billion, while PWD-owned businesses received KSh 66.7 million.
“Looking forward, we want to accelerate sensitization forums for these interest groups and include training that will focus on step-by-step guidance on how to bid. We have noted that PWDs often lag behind the other groups and therefore, we will also use these forums to obtain feedback from this group on the challenges they could be facing so that we tailor solutions for them,” Dr. Ngeno added.
He noted that the Company will continue collaborating with financial institutions to provide linkages for financial support to these groups, enabling their effective participation in procurement processes.
Kenya Power will also conduct internal sensitization across all user departments on the importance of supporting AGPO by dedicating common user item procurement to these groups and ensuring prompt payment to improve their cash flow, reinforcing inclusive and sustainable supply chain practices.
