Mombasa: The Government has challenged Heads of Procurement in public institutions to rethink procurement processes and adopt innovative approaches to meeting set timelines without compromising integrity, accountability or value for money. Deputy Head of the Public Service (DHOPS) Amos Gathecha emphasized the need for procurement to be viewed as a strategic tool to implement Government policies, stimulate economic growth, and improve the quality of public services.
According to Kenya News Agency, Gathecha urged procurement officers to be responsible and ensure that every procurement decision contributes to measurable outcomes for citizens. He encouraged them to critically examine processes that lead to delays and bureaucratic red tape in their institutions. ‘How can procurement timelines be shortened without compromising integrity? How do we do business process re-engineering?’ he posed.
Gathecha highlighted the significance of efficient procurement in translating government budgets and policies into tangible development projects and services, including roads, hospitals, schools, water systems, digital infrastructure, and affordable housing. He spoke during the official closing of the Fifth Heads of Procurement and Supply Chain Management Conference in Mombasa, which brought together professionals from across the country.
The DHOPS emphasized that the effectiveness of public procurement should be measured by its impact on citizens rather than the amount of money spent. ‘Every Kenyan ultimately judges the government not by the volume of money appropriated but by the quality of services delivered,’ he stated, noting the public’s expectation for quality healthcare, roads, clean water, and schools.
Gathecha challenged Accounting Officers and Heads of Procurement to use data wisely to enhance planning, contract management, and decision-making while creating opportunities for youth, women, and persons with disabilities in procurement processes. He stressed that such measures would greatly improve public expenditure performance in Kenya.
He reiterated the Government’s commitment to strengthening procurement reforms through the Electronic Government Procurement System (e-GP), which has improved transparency, efficiency, accountability, and real-time oversight. By May 2026, 1,543 public procuring entities had been registered and onboarded onto the e-GP platform, with 679 having published their consolidated annual procurement plans.
Gathecha disclosed that the system had processed over 9,700 published tenders and more than 2,600 contracts valued at approximately Sh12 billion, with numbers expected to rise as more entities transition to the platform. He emphasized that, in line with the Presidential directive and National Treasury policy, all public procuring entities are required to conduct procurement activities exclusively through the e-GP platform starting 1st July 2026.
Despite the advancements in technology, Gathecha cautioned that it alone would not transform the procurement function, stressing the need for professionals who uphold ethical standards, exercise sound judgement, and take responsibility for their decisions. He called for a collaborative approach to procurement, involving government institutions, suppliers, regulators, development partners, the private sector, and citizens.
Gathecha noted that procurement could serve as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth by creating opportunities for local businesses and enhancing participation by youth, women, and persons with disabilities. He urged participants to implement the resolutions and commitments from the conference in their respective institutions, emphasizing that the future of procurement is about ensuring that every public investment generates tangible benefits for Kenyans.
In his concluding remarks, Gathecha challenged public institutions to ensure that every public investment generates tangible benefits, highlighting the importance of spending wisely, delivering efficiently, and maintaining integrity to create greater value from every public investment. ‘When procurement delivers, Government delivers, the economy grows, businesses thrive, investors gain confidence, public trust is strengthened, and the lives of our citizens are transformed,’ he added.
