Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) is determined to drive Access to Government Opportunities (AGPO) uptake for women, youth and persons with disabilities. Director General EPRA Daniel Kiptoo said the training was conducted in compliance with the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 Article 227 on the fair, equitable, transparent and cost effective public procurement of goods and services, Article 55 on affirmative action and the public procurement and Asset Disposal Act,2015. Kiptoo said the access to AGPO programme provides for women, youth and PWDs to access 30% of government procurement opportunities, therefore EPRA has been keen to ensure enterprises owned by the special groups could easily access opportunities for government tenders and contracts. ‘In this current financial year, the authority has set aside Sh32 million towards tenders preserved for these special groups. Between July and December 2022, we as the authority awarded tenders worth Sh20 million to the AGPO group,’ said Kiptoo. He further pointed out that the categories of tender preserved for the special groups by the authority are air ticketing services, cleaning services, supply and deliveries for laptops and IPADs, uniforms, office stationeries, ICT equipment and licenses, library materials and branded items. ‘We as the authority are committed to give a fair chance for participation to suppliers to offer goods and services and continuously empower and include the youth, women and PWDs as our stakeholders in the discussions on the procurement process and challenges you face as suppliers,’ said Kiptoo. Deputy Director Supply Chain Management Loise Thuge said the purpose of the sensitization was to take them through the required procedures, registration of enterprises and groups, eligibility criteria, legal and regulatory framework in order to improve the responsiveness of their tender documents. She further urged the groups to supply quality goods and services to ensure growth and development of their enterprises.
Source: Kenya News Agency