The government has announced plans to train 60,000 youth across Kenya on how to access public procurement opportunities, as part of ongoing efforts to empower young people and promote inclusivity in government contracting.
Speaking during Mazingira Day celebrations at Wasio Comprehensive School in Suna East, Migori County, Principal Secretary for Public Investment and Assets Management, Mr. Cyril Wagunda Odede, said the initiative will be rolled out under a national youth empowerment program.
The broader plan also targets to offer in-job training to 90,000 youth and provide recognition of prior learning for 20,000 others, equipping them with vital skills to compete for government tenders.
Mr. Odede said the training will help youth understand how to benefit from the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) policy, which reserves 30 per cent of all public contracts for youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
“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,” said Mr. Odede.
He noted that many young people lack awareness of the procurement process, often seeking help from leaders instead of formally registering on the EGP system.
“Whenever I come here, I hear youths asking for tenders, but most of them have not even registered on the system. Please do not follow anyone promising tenders until you have registered officially,” he cautioned.
The PS urged young people to take advantage of the upcoming training, describing it as a transformative opportunity to improve livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to the economy.
Mr. Odede also revealed that under the NYOTA Program, a Ksh.5 billion partnership between the Government of Kenya and the World Bank, 10,000 youth across the country are being targeted, 70 youth per ward across 1,450 wards nationwide.
“The Nyota Project was rolled out last week, and I was here on October 6 to sensitize leaders. However, statistics show that Suna East is still lagging in registration,” he said, urging local administrators to mobilize youth aged 18 to 29 before the October 12 deadline.
He further appealed to Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs to personally ensure that eligible youth are registered, warning that any unfilled slots would be reassigned elsewhere.
“Even if it means going door to door, ensure our youth register. We cannot allow this money and opportunity to go elsewhere,” he emphasized.
The PS also raised concern that several county governments in the Nyanza region had yet to upload their procurement plans on the EGP platform, naming Migori County Assembly as the only entity that had complied.
“Apart from Migori County Assembly, the rest of the county executives in Nyanza have not uploaded their plans. You will not access funds until you comply,” Mr. Odede warned, calling on Homa Bay, Siaya, and Kisumu counties to act promptly.
He urged county leaders to adopt technology and transparency in procurement to enhance accountability and ensure equal access to opportunities.
Mr. Odede reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering young people through training, employment, and entrepreneurship, terming it a key strategy for tackling unemployment and promoting sustainable economic growth.
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