Kenya has made good progress in improving public procurement system

Publication of Annual Procurement Plans is a great first step towards increased transparency and efficiency. [iStockphoto]

Kenya has made significant progress in the journey to holistically improve the public procurement system based on the principles of good governance, integrity, equality, equity, professionalism, value for money, transparency and accountability. Public procurement is the process by which governments and other publicly-funded entities acquire goods, works, and services needed to implement public projects.

It's important to appreciate the journey the country has taken in its effort to reform public procurement. From the 1960s where there was no formal procurement system, we moved to a system regulated by Treasury Circulars in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, enactment of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act 2005 and finally to the introduction of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act (PPDA) of 2015 and attendant Regulations of 2020 which did usher in new standards for public procurement in Kenya.