Mombasa: The Government has challenged Heads of Procurement in public institutions to find ways of delivering their mandates within set timelines to avert bureaucratic red tape and enhance efficiency. Deputy Head of the Public Service (DHOPS) Amos Gathecha emphasized the need for procurement officers to critically assess how their decisions can shorten procurement timelines without compromising integrity.
According to Kenya News Agency, Gathecha spoke at the closing of the Fifth Heads of Procurement and Supply Chain Management Conference in Mombasa, urging officers to use data for improved planning and contract management. He highlighted the importance of expanding opportunities for local enterprises, youth, women, and persons with disabilities. Gathecha noted that decisive action on these issues could lead to significant improvements in public expenditure performance.
The DHOPS stressed that procurement should be seen as a strategic tool for implementing government policies, promoting economic growth, and delivering better services to Kenyans. He underscored that the success of public procurement should be measured by its impact on citizens, emphasizing that Government performance is judged by its deliverables rather than expenditure.
Gathecha directed all public procuring entities, including Ministries, Departments and Agencies, County Governments, and State Corporations, to exclusively use the Electronic Government Procurement System (e-GP) for procurement activities. He stated that procurement outside the e-GP platform would not be approved or paid for, describing this measure as essential for eliminating manual loopholes and enhancing public trust.
He revealed that over 1,500 public procuring entities had been registered and onboarded onto the e-GP platform. However, Gathecha cautioned that technology alone could not transform procurement, emphasizing the need for ethical professionals and effective leadership in digital systems.
Gathecha concluded by asserting that creating public value requires a collaborative approach between government, capable suppliers, businesses, and investors. He highlighted the pivotal role of procurement professionals in the country’s development agenda, noting that Kenya’s future prosperity will rely on effectively transforming public resources into public value.
