Supply chain officers face fresh screening

Employers have 30 days to submit details of their supply officers or consultants as the government moves to weed out rogue players in public procurement.

Kenya Institute of Supply Management (KISM) acting Chief Executive James Kaloki in a public notice directed all employers to submit the names, academic and professional qualifications, and registration numbers of the officers by July 17.

Other details for procurement practitioners that employers will need to submit are licence number and date when it was issued.

“It has come to the attention of KISM that some employers including consultants have employed or retained persons who are not registered or licensed by KISM or who are not in good standing conduct,” said Mr Kaloki. 

Registered

He noted that the law requires supply chain management officers, procurement officers, warehousing or store officers to be registered with KISM, which regulates supply management in Kenya. 

“Supplies practitioners who are employed or retained as consultancies are notified that Section 29 of Supply Management Act makes it an offence for any person who is not eligible to be registered or licensed to practice for gain as a supplies practitioner,” said Kaloki.

The law also makes it an offence for a person who is eligible to register to practice without a licence. 

Early this year during the opening of the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management World Summit in Mombasa, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani said the attainment of the Big Four Agenda will heavily rely on procurement and supply management systems.

“It goes without saying that public procurement and supply chain management systems in all other sectors of the economy will be heavily relied upon to deliver initiatives under these four pillars,” said Mr Yatani in a speech read on his behalf by Chief Administrative Secretary Nelson Gaichuhie.

The four pillars are, increasing production of nutritious food; creating more jobs by revamping the manufacturing sector; building over a half a million affordable houses, and ensuring universal access to critical healthcare services.

In health and housing sector, Yatani called for approaches in procurement that would focus on delivery and performance. 

He said Kenya prides itself on being among the few countries in the world with a law that governs procurement and supply chain management.