NAIROBI, Kenya– Public Service Principal Secretary Susan Mangeni has urged government procurement officers to prioritize the settlement of pending bills owed to businesses under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) program.
According to Mangeni,timely payments are critical in unlocking growth for small and marginalized enterprises.
“I call on heads of procurement to prioritize pending bills owed to AGPO suppliers as a first charge on exchequer releases,” Mangeni said.
“This payment assurance will boost MSME participation in AGPO tenders and open them up to more economic opportunities.”
Speaking at the 4th Edition of the Head of Procurement Forum hosted by the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management under the theme “Prosperity Procurement and Supply Chain as a Catalyst for National Transformation,” the PS proposed the introduction of a debt offtaking mechanism to address long-standing arrears owed to youth, women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) who supply goods and services to government agencies.
She noted that while the AGPO program, which reserves 30 percent of public procurement opportunities for these groups, was designed to empower disadvantaged populations, the persistent challenge of delayed payments has continued to undermine confidence and limit participation.
Mangeni further challenged heads of procurement across ministries, departments, and agencies to scale up public sensitization on AGPO tender opportunities, observing that many eligible groups are either unaware of the program or lack the information needed to navigate the application processes.
In addition, she emphasized the importance of promoting the government’s 40 percent local content policy, which encourages public institutions to purchase goods and services from local manufacturers and suppliers.
According to her, prioritizing homegrown solutions would not only stimulate industrial growth but also create more sustainable
economic opportunities for Kenyans.
Kenya’s procurement sector has been under pressure to clear mounting pending bills, which have constrained liquidity for small businesses.
Analysts say streamlining payments to AGPO suppliers would strengthen trust in government procurement and accelerate inclusive economic growth.
