The Government has announced plans to train 60,000 youth across the country on accessing government procurement opportunities as part of its wider effort to promote youth empowerment and inclusion in public contracting.
Speaking during the Mazingira Day celebrations at Wasio Comprehensive School in Suna East, Migori County, Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department for Public Investment and Assets Management, Mr. Cyril Wagunda Odede, said the training forms part of the larger youth empowerment programme that will also offer in-job training for 90,000 youth and recognition of prior learning for another 20,000.
Mr. Odede said the initiative aims to equip young people with the knowledge and skills to meaningfully participate in government procurement processes and take advantage of the 30 per cent of public contracts reserved for youth, women, and persons with disabilities under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) Policy.
“In every State Department and Government Agency, 30 per cent of procurement is set aside for youth, women, and persons with disabilities. However, for you to benefit, you must register your company on the Electronic Government Procurement (EGP) system,” he said.
The PS decried the low awareness among young people on how to access tenders, saying many approach leaders for tenders without understanding how the system works.
“Whenever I come here, I hear youths asking for tenders, but most of them have not even registered on the EGP system. Please do not follow anyone promising tenders until you have registered officially on the platform,” he advised.
He urged youth to take advantage of the planned training, describing it as a transformative opportunity to improve their livelihoods and participate meaningfully in the economy.
The PS revealed that through the NYOTA programme, which is a partnership between the Government of Kenya and the World Bank valued at Sh 5 billion, they are targeting 10,000 youth nationwide, with 70 youth per Ward across 1,450 Wards in the country.
“The Nyota Project was rolled out last week, and I was here on October 6 to sensitise leaders on the same. However, statistics show that Suna East is still lagging in registration,” Mr. Odede said, urging Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs to mobilise eligible youth aged between 18 and 29 years to enrol before the registration deadline on October 12.
He appealed to local administrators to ensure that youth who have completed secondary school education or below are reached out to before the registration window closes, warning that unutilised slots would be reallocated elsewhere.
“To our Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs, even if it means walking door-to-door, to ensure our youth register. We cannot allow this money and opportunity to go elsewhere,” he emphasised.
While highlighting the progress of the Electronic Government Procurement system (EGP), Mr. Wagunda expressed concern that most county governments in the Nyanza region had not uploaded their procurement plans on the EGP platform, singling out Migori County Assembly as the only entity that had complied.
“I was checking the system yesterday, and apart from the Migori County Assembly, the rest of the county executives in Nyanza have not uploaded their procurement plans. You will not access funds until you comply,” he cautioned, calling out on Homa Bay, Siaya, and Kisumu counties not to lag behind.
He urged county executives to embrace transparency and technology in procurement processes, noting that the EGP platform was critical in enhancing accountability and access to opportunities for all Kenyans.
Mr Odede reiterated the government’s commitment to empowering youth through training, employment, and entrepreneurship, saying such initiatives were key to addressing unemployment and promoting sustainable development.
By Polycarp Ochieng and Geoffrey Makokha
