Kenya: Kenya Railways has intensified efforts to enhance the participation of youth, women, Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), and other eligible citizen contractors in public procurement through sensitisation forums. Kenya Railways General Manager of Supply Chain Management, Benedict Kiema, said that the forums are focused on sensitizing contractors from special interest groups to build capacity on public procurement requirements, tender preparation, contract management, and compliance with procurement regulations.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kiema, speaking at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) during one of the forums, reaffirmed the corporation’s commitment to promoting inclusive procurement and increasing access to business opportunities for special groups in line with government policy. The exercise aligns with the Government’s procurement reservation policy, which allocates at least 30 percent of public procurement opportunities to youth, women, and persons with disabilities, while also promoting 40 percent local content in government procurement.
The forum emphasized the inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in public procurement and economic empowerment programs. Participants were informed that PWD-owned enterprises are among the special groups eligible to benefit from the 30 percent procurement opportunities reserved under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) framework. Kenya Railways officials encouraged persons with disabilities to take advantage of the reserved opportunities by registering their enterprises, maintaining compliance with procurement requirements, and actively participating in tendering processes.
The sensitization forum further highlighted the importance of attaining the two percent target for persons with disabilities, noting that increased participation in procurement and business opportunities would not only enhance economic inclusion but also promote self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods. Officials observed that empowering PWD-owned businesses through access to government contracts remains a critical step towards reducing inequalities and ensuring that development opportunities reach all segments of society.
Participants were urged to leverage available support mechanisms and capacity-building initiatives to improve their competitiveness and increase their chances of securing government tenders. Jedidah Njeri, a Kenya Railways officer, guided participants through critical aspects of the procurement process, emphasizing the need for contractors to understand tender requirements and maintain compliance with relevant laws and regulations. She underscored the importance of submitting complete and properly organized tender documents, noting that quality documentation and proper pagination are critical factors during tender evaluation.
Participants were also educated on the provisions of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act (PPAD) and the role of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) in ensuring transparency, accountability, and fairness in public procurement. Njeri highlighted various procurement opportunities reserved for youth, women, and persons with disabilities, including supply and delivery of flowers, provision of cleaning services, and provision of garbage collection services, among others.
The initiative is expected to empower businesses owned by youth, women, and persons with disabilities to effectively compete for available procurement opportunities and contribute to national development through participation in government projects. The corporation noted that increasing awareness and strengthening the capacity of special groups remains critical in ensuring equitable access to procurement opportunities and achieving the government’s broader agenda of economic empowerment and inclusion.
The sensitization forum forms part of ongoing efforts by Kenya Railways to promote transparency, enhance supplier participation, and ensure that procurement opportunities benefit a wider segment of the population.
