Corrupt Government officials are locking out women and youth from accessing the 30 per cent procurement stake reserved for women, youth and the disabled.
This has seen women entrepreneurs access about 10 per cent of Government tenders, despite continued campaigns from the Kenya Private Sector Association (Kepsa) and ministries such as Public Service, Youth and Gender to increase the current low uptake.
However, Public Service, Youth and Gender Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki said the Government will ensure the Procurement Act is amended to remove bottlenecks that impede women entrepreneurs from accessing tenders.
“We are aware of procurement officers who are quick to ask for a bribe when women want to get State contracts,” Ms Kariuki said while presiding at the launch of the Global Women Summit yesterday at a Nairobi hotel. She said the amendment will see women deal directly with Principal Secretaries when looking for tenders in State agencies.
“The brokers in government corridors will be a thing of the past,” assured Ms Kariuki. The summit is meant to empower women entrepreneurs, and is being facilitated by Kepsa in partnership with SheCares International.
