Sharp Daily
No Result
View All Result
Friday, July 11, 2025
  • Home
  • News
    • Politics
  • Business
    • Banking
  • Investments
  • Technology
  • Startups
  • Real Estate
  • Features
  • Appointments
  • About Us
    • Meet The Team
Sharp Daily
  • Home
  • News
    • Politics
  • Business
    • Banking
  • Investments
  • Technology
  • Startups
  • Real Estate
  • Features
  • Appointments
  • About Us
    • Meet The Team
No Result
View All Result
Sharp Daily
No Result
View All Result
Home Explainer

How E-Tendering can reshape public procurement in Kenya

Malcom Rutere by Malcom Rutere
June 20, 2025
in Explainer
Reading Time: 2 mins read

For years, Kenya’s public procurement system has been riddled with accusations of favoritism, inflated costs and corruption. Government contracts, which are often awarded behind closed doors, have been a fertile ground for corruption which leads to massive leakages of public funds and denying potential contractors a fair shot. However, in a bold step towards curbing entrenched corruption and promoting accountability, the government of Kenya has rolled out a mandatory shift to electronic procurement systems across all government institutions such as ministries, departments and respective agencies. This move requiring public entities to use the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority’s e-platform is a structural reform with profound implications for governance and economic inclusivity.

According to the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, Public procurement in Kenya accounts for between 10% to 13% of the GDP. This demonstrates that a greater portion of the annual general government expenditure is processed through public procurement. Yet, for years, the sector has been riddled with inefficiency, political patronage, conflict of interest and fraud. High-profile scandals such as the KEMSA COVID-19 supplies have the need for immediate reform because they outline the invisible cost borne by the public due to opaque processes.

The new system mandates that all procurement processes, that is from the tender advertisement to the evaluation and award, must be conducted via the National e-Procurement System which is hosted by Public Procurement Regulatory Authority. It is designed to make public contracts traceable and open. This will aid in enhancing transparency which will reduce room for collusion and ghost suppliers since each tender will be visible to oversight bodies and also the general public. Second, there will be improved competition and inclusion, where e-tendering creates a level playing field where all eligible suppliers, can access and respond to opportunities. Third, increased efficiency and cost savings where digitization will reduce administrative burdens and significantly cut time and cost of procurement cycles.

To realize the full potential of e-procurement, Kenya must go beyond launching the platform. It must institutionalize integrity, accessibility and accountability at every stage of the procurement lifecycle. This can be achieved through equipping and training of procurement units, where they must not only know how to use the platform but also how to align procurement plans with legal and ethical frameworks. Second, strengthening cybersecurity infrastructure. This can be achieved by securing the system through third-party penetration testing, blockchain-based bid sealing and robust access controls to ensure zero data manipulation. Stipulate the legal consequences for bypassing the system. Codify clear penalties for public officials who award contracts outside the e-platform. This accountability must be swift, public and proportionate to act as a deterrent.

RELATEDPOSTS

Procurement officers urged to embrace power of connectivity to enhance business growth in Africa

November 20, 2023

The digital transition in Kenya’s public procurement system is an integral shift in how government interacts with its citizens and resources. By closing the door on secrecy and corruption, and opening a window to transparency and fairness, Kenya is taking a bold step toward restoring public trust. For e-procurement to deliver on its promise, it must be accompanied by political will, civic vigilance, and cultural change.

Previous Post

Unlocking long-term wealth with the power of compounding

Next Post

Social consequences of the tax relief for gamblers

Malcom Rutere

Malcom Rutere

Related Posts

Economy

The mechanics of currency manipulation

June 27, 2025
Analysis

Kenya’s CIS market: Q1′ 2025 shows a surge, setting the stage for future expansion.

June 26, 2025
Explainer

How Kenya can compete with global employment markets

June 24, 2025
Explainer

Why firms are shedding jobs despite survival

June 19, 2025
Economy

Opinion: Our monetary gains must be matched with fiscal reforms

June 16, 2025
Education

Navigating insolvency in Kenya.

June 11, 2025

LATEST STORIES

Why Employers Should Prioritize Pensions Over One-Time Gratuity Payments

July 10, 2025
Business and Finance Concept - Coin, Currency, Financial Item, Graph,

Opinion: Why lower taxes may be Kenya’s only escape route

July 10, 2025

Nvidia becomes the first company globally to hit USD 4.0 trillion market value

July 10, 2025

Privatization in Kenya: A new dawn for capital markets and fiscal stability

July 10, 2025

How Kenya is future-proofing its economy against illicit finance

July 9, 2025

The importance of Investment Policy Statements (IPS) for pension schemes in Kenya

July 4, 2025

Understanding Life Cover as an Additional Benefit in Retirement Benefit Schemes

July 4, 2025

Del Monte foods files for bankruptcy in USA

July 3, 2025
  • About Us
  • Meet The Team
  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
Email us: editor@thesharpdaily.com

Sharp Daily © 2024

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Politics
  • Business
    • Banking
  • Investments
  • Technology
  • Startups
  • Real Estate
  • Features
  • Appointments
  • About Us
    • Meet The Team

Sharp Daily © 2024