Environment and Natural Resources Principal Secretary Margaret Mwakima Thursday distributed more than Sh1.7 million from Women Enterprise Fund to 11 women groups.

Dr Mwakima also said the Government was reviewing procurement procedures to ensure more women won Government tenders.

She was responding to complaints from women entrepreneurs from the county who said they were being locked out of Government procurement opportunities.

The women claimed a presidential directive that requires women and the youth to get 30 per cent of Government tenders had been rendered inactive in the county.

The women told the Environment and Natural Resources Principal Secretary that bureaucracy in Government was locking most of them out of procurement opportunities in the region.

They said a requirement that they produce an Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (Agpo) certificate from the Finance and Planning ministry and  Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) clearance was frustrating.

"Agpo has become a major hindrance to the development of small-scale women entrepreneurs in the region. There is need for the Government to streamline the issue of Agpo certification to enable more small-scale businesswomen to access the procurement opportunities to improve on their lot," Lina Mwachuma, one of the entrepreneurs told the PS.

The women said lack of information further barred them from the process.

"We do not know when the Government tenders are being advertised. The Government should come up with a way where the beneficiaries can easily access tenders," said Ms Mwachuma.

In response to women's concerns, Mwakima said the Government was working to ensure the programme targeted groups. 

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