Migori: The Principal Secretary (PS) for Public Investments and Asset Management, Cyrill Odede, has urged youths from Migori to register their Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) with the Electronic Government Procurement System (E-GPS). He emphasized that registration will enable them to access county and government tenders.
According to Kenya News Agency, the E-GPS system aims to reduce bureaucracy and corruption across national and county governments, while enhancing service delivery and providing equal opportunities, especially in tenders allocated for the youth and People with Disabilities (PWD). Speaking during the official launch of the Migori County Young Professionals (MCYP) group at Migori Teachers Training College (TTC), Odede highlighted that 30 percent of all government tenders are allocated for youth and PWD.
PS Odede encouraged the Migori County Young Professionals to take the initiative to disseminate information on E-GPS to other youths, facilitating their participation in government procurement processes. He further urged youth to leverage the 30 percent of public contracts reserved for youth, women, and persons with disabilities under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) policy.
He stated, ‘In every state department and government agency, 30 percent of procurement is set aside for youth, women, and persons with disabilities. However, for you to benefit, you must register your company on the Electronic Government Procurement (E-GPS) system.’
The PS expressed concern over the low awareness among young people on accessing tenders, noting that many seek tenders without understanding the system. He advised, ‘Whenever I come here, I hear youth asking for tenders, but most of them have not even registered on the EGP system. Please do not follow anyone promising tenders until you have registered officially on the platform.’
The PS also noted the government’s efforts in creating job opportunities for young trained individuals, citing the Affordable Housing Projects Internship, which will absorb more than 4,000 youth. Additionally, he mentioned the NYOTA projects, which have already started disbursing grants to youths across the country, with 2,800 youths in Migori set to benefit.
The PS was joined by Suna West Member of Parliament Peter Masara, who remarked that many youths have missed out on government tenders due to a lack of awareness. Masara highlighted the importance of forming groups, encouraging every young trained person to participate as it creates a network for shared opportunities.
Felix Odhiambo, the Chair of the MCYP, pointed out key challenges facing the youth, such as a lack of awareness of such groups’ existence. He encouraged the Migori youth to remain strong in their pursuit of job opportunities and tenders to empower themselves economically.
