Kenya Power (KP) has recorded a 470 percent increase in the uptake of tenders by businesses owned by young people, women and people living with disabilities (PWDs), awarding contracts worth Sh3.5 billion in the last financial year ended June 30, 2025.
This compares to Sh614 million awarded to these groups in the previous financial year ended June 30, 2024, making the 2024/25 performance the highest in the last eight years.
“Last year, we were intentional in meeting and sensitizing the youth, women and PWDs about procurement opportunities that exist for them within the Company. Our efforts have led to these impressive results,” said Dr John Ngeno, Kenya Power’s General Manager for Supply Chain and Logistics.
Youth, Women and PWDs are identified as special bidder categories under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) Framework, which requires all public entities to set aside 30 per cent of their annual procurement budget for tenders directed to these groups.
During the last financial year, youth-owned enterprises received the biggest share, securing Sh. 2.2 billion, followed by women and PWDs-owned businesses at Sh1.25 billion and Sh66.7 million, respectively.
“Looking forward, we want to accelerate sensitization forums for these interest groups and include training that will focus on step-by-step guidance on how to bid. We have noted that PWDs often lag behind the other groups and therefore, we will also use these forums to obtain feedback from this group on the challenges they could be facing so that we tailor solutions for them,” said Dr. Ngeno.
He added that the company will continue to work collaboratively with financial institutions to provide linkages for financial support to the interest groups, thereby facilitating their effective participation in procurement processes.
