Nairobi: Kenya Power has recorded a 470 per cent increase in the uptake of tenders by businesses owned by youth, women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs), awarding contracts worth Sh3.5 billion in the last financial year that ended 30th June, 2025. This marks a significant rise compared to the Sh614 million awarded to these groups in the previous financial year, making the 2024/25 performance the highest in the last eight years.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. John Ngeno, Kenya Power’s General Manager for Supply Chain and Logistics, emphasized the company’s commitment to inclusive procurement and economic empowerment. “Last year, we were intentional in meeting and sensitising the youth, women, and PWDs about procurement opportunities that exist for them within the Company. Our efforts have led to these impressive results,” he stated.
Youth, women, and PWDs are identified as special bidder categories under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) Framework, which mandates all public entities to allocate 30 per cent of their annual procurement budget for tenders directed to these groups. During the last financial year, youth-owned enterprises received the largest share, securing Sh2.2 billion, followed by women- and PWD-owned businesses at Sh1.25 billion and Sh66.7 million, respectively.
Dr. Ngeno also mentioned plans to accelerate sensitisation forums for these interest groups and include training that will focus on step-by-step guidance on how to bid. He noted that PWDs often lag behind other groups and highlighted the need for feedback to tailor solutions for their challenges.
Furthermore, Dr. Ngeno stated that the company will collaborate with financial institutions to provide linkages for financial support to the interest groups, facilitating their effective participation in procurement processes. In addition, the company will conduct internal sensitisation across all user departments to support AGPO by dedicating the procurement of common user items to these groups and ensuring prompt payment to reinforce inclusive and sustainable supply chain practices.
