The Principal Secretary (PS) for Public Investments and Asset Management, Cyrill Odede, has encouraged youths from Migori to register their Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) with the Electronic Government Procurement System (E-GPS).
He noted that registration will enable them to access county and government tenders.
The E-GPS system also aims to reduce bureaucracy and corruption across national and county governments while enhancing service delivery and giving equal opportunities, especially on tenders allocated for the youth and PWD.
Speaking during the official launch of the Migori County Young Professionals (MCYP) group at Migori Teachers Training College (TTC), in an event that brought together all the graduates from the County’s TTCs, Odede said that 30 per cent of all government tenders have always been allocated for youth and People with Disabilities (PWD).
PS Odede urged the Migori County Young Professionals to take up the mantle and the initiative to pass the information on E-GPS to other youths to help them participate in government procurement processes.
PS further urged youth to 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 (E-GPS) 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 youth 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.
The PS noted that the government has been creating job opportunities for young, trained individuals, referring to the Affordable Housing Projects Internship, which will absorb more than 4,000 youth.
The government is trying to create as many job opportunities within and outside the country to ensure youths access job opportunities.
For example, the recently launched NYOTA projects have already started disbursing grants to youths across the country, with 2,800 youths in Migori set to benefit.
The PS was accompanied by Suna West Member of Parliament Peter Masara, who noted that many youths have missed out on government tenders due to a lack of awareness.
Masara explained that the formation of the groups is important and every young trained person should yearn for it, as it will create a network for shared opportunities.
Felix Odhiambo, the Chair of the MCYP, disclosed key challenges facing the youth, such as a lack of awareness of the existence of such groups.
He encouraged the Migori youth to remain strong in their pursuit of job opportunities and tenders to empower themselves economically.
By Makokha Khaoya
