CS Ukur Yatani roots for efficient supply management

Kenya needs to have competent procurement personnel if it is to achieve its development targets, says Labour Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani.

Speaking during the opening of the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM) World Summit in Mombasa, the CS 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 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 in being among the few countries in the world with a law that governs procurement and supply chain management professionals.

This culminated in the establishment of the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM) and the mandatory requirement for procurement practitioners to be members of the institute.

This has compelled the professionals to update their skills and knowledge, by participating in the institute’s capacity development programmes.

Economic interest

KISM chairman Chris Oanda, who was elected IFPSM Regional Vice-President for Africa, said Kenya had demonstrated that it was ready to shape new thinking in the way business is done and in promoting trade.

The summit, the first in Africa, brought together 600 practitioners and experts in supply management from more than 20 countries. This included procurement officers from counties and national government.

Mr Oanda said the objective of the summit was to look at how decisions on procurement can be made to serve economic and environmental interests.  

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