KWALE, Kenya — Entrepreneurs and traders in Kwale County have undergone training on Kenya’s Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system, a digital platform designed to manage public procurement processes online and widen access to government tenders.
The training programme, organised by the National Treasury of Kenya through its e-GP unit in partnership with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), brought together local business owners to learn how to participate in government procurement using the new digital platform.
Officials said the initiative aims to help suppliers from Kwale compete more effectively for contracts issued by both national and county government institutions.
Digital Shift in Public Procurement
During the training sessions, participants were guided through key steps required to access opportunities on the system, including creating supplier accounts, reviewing procurement plans published by government agencies, and submitting bids electronically.
According to Treasury officials, the digital platform is part of wider reforms intended to increase transparency, efficiency, and competitiveness in Kenya’s public procurement process.
An official from the Treasury’s e-GP unit, Doris Ng’anga, said the training was designed to ensure suppliers understand the digital procedures required to participate in public tenders.
“Increasing awareness among suppliers could lead to higher participation in government tenders and greater competition for public contracts,” Ng’anga said.
She added that while the government has been conducting webinars and publishing training materials online, face-to-face engagement remains important, especially for suppliers who may not easily access digital information.
Treasury data shows that more than 25,000 suppliers have registered on the e-GP platform, with thousands already approved to bid after meeting documentation requirements.
Closing the Information Gap
Business leaders in Kwale say the training could help bridge the information gap that has historically prevented many local entrepreneurs from applying for government tenders.
Kwale KNCCI chairperson Bakari Mkumbuka Banzi said many suppliers miss opportunities due to simple documentation errors during the application process.
“Small mistakes in documentation often result in suppliers losing opportunities despite meeting other requirements,” Banzi noted.
However, he said access to financing remains a major challenge for contractors who secure government tenders but lack the capital required to implement projects.
Financing Challenges for Contractors
Banzi said efforts are underway to address this challenge through partnerships between business associations and financial institutions.
He added that the Kwale County Government, led by Governor Fatuma Achani, has established a business support fund aimed at helping local entrepreneurs access credit and expand their operations.
The chamber is also engaging banks and other lenders to explore ways of improving financing for contractors working on public projects.
Opportunities for Youth, Women, and PWDs
Entrepreneurs who attended the training said the sessions clarified the procurement process and highlighted opportunities they had previously overlooked.
Participants were also reminded about Kenya’s policy reserving 30pc of public procurement opportunities for youth, women, and persons with disabilities, a measure aimed at promoting inclusive economic participation.
