By Shaban Omar
The National Treasury in partnership with the Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry in partnership has initiated a two day training for business owners on Electronic Government Procurement in Kwale County.
The training is part of the government’s wider strategy to streamline public procurement and boost accountability in the use of public funds.
Procurement specialist in the National Treasury’s EGP unit, Doris Ng’ang’a, said the exercise aims to equip business suppliers and investors with the skills needed to navigate the digital procurement system.
Ng’ang’a said participants were taken through EGP profile registration, how to access and interpret procurement plans, how to identify available tenders, and how to participate in bidding processes through webinars.
She added that digitizing procurement is expected to enhance transparency, efficiency and inclusivity, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to do business with the government.
“Once a supplier is well informed, they are able to participate effectively in the system. This ensures we obtain value for taxpayers’ money because competition is enhanced, allowing the best bids to emerge in the entire procurement process,” she said.
She said that currently 35,000 suppliers have been registered and approved on the platform, adding that the ongoing trainings aim to increase the number of compliant and digitally skilled suppliers across the country.
The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry chair Abubakar Mkumbuka welcomed the training adding it would help in enriching Knowledge on government’s tender applications.
Mkumbuka said many business owners and suppliers are often locked out of government tenders due to limited knowledge of application procedures and the required documentation.
“Most of those I have spoken to admitted that they did not understand the electronic government procurement process. But today, they have learned why their applications failed and what they need to improve,” he said.
He added that through the training, he is optimistic more business people will be able to apply for tenders confidently and qualify.
Mkumbuka further noted that KNCCI is looking forward to working with various stakeholders to address the daily challenges faced by business persons.
“We will continue engaging different institutions to educate our business people so that they can improve and strengthen their enterprises,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Spesoza Denis, urged young entrepreneurs to take advantage of such training to explore and utilise the numerous opportunities available within government procurement.
She said the training has been instrumental in bridging the information gap that previously prevented many people from qualifying for government tenders.
