Kenya Power says it gave youth, women and PWDs Ksh.4B in 2024 tenders

Businesses owned by youth, women and persons with disabilities (PWDs) took up tenders worth Ksh.4.15 billion from Kenya Power during the 2023/24 financial year, the utility said on Tuesday.

This exceeded the Ksh.1.2 billion target the company had set under Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) for the year ended June 30, 2024.

In the previous (2022/23) fiscal year, Kenya Power awarded these groups Ksh.472 million in tenders.

Kenya Power’s General Manager for Supply Chain and Logistics John Ngeno attributed the uptake of AGPO tenders to the company's sensitisation to target groups on procurement opportunities.

“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 per cent absorption of our annual AGPO budget as more Kenyans become aware of these opportunities,” Dr Ngeno said.

Under the AGPO category, the electricity provider says it awards tenders “that are not highly technical” such as the supply of locally available materials and common user items, works and services, and the provision of cleaning services, among others.

Last year, youth-owned businesses took up the biggest chunk of AGPO tenders (Ksh.3.8 billion) followed by those owned by women and PWDs at Ksh.324 million and Ksh.1.3 million respectively.

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

He added that Kenya Power targets to award Ksh.11.6 billion in AGPO tenders to the three special interest groups this financial year.