The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has awarded tenders worth Ksh609 million to youth, women and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

The tenders, for the current financial year, are part of the Ksh1.8 billion procurement budget that the company set aside to be utilised under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO). 

In a statement released on Friday, April 5, the lighting company noted that the organisation was focused on supporting the minority in the country. 

"The increased uptake of AGPO tenders is a result of the deliberate effort by the Company to sensitize the target groups on the procurement opportunities that are available within the Company,” KPLC noted. 

During the 8 months from July 2023, businesses owned by youths accounted for the largest value of tenders that were awarded during the period taking up a total of Ksh472.9 million.

Women and PWDs accounted for Ksh135.5 million and Ksh646,700 respectively. 

The company further promised to collaborate with financial institutions to create linkages for financial support to the interest groups to facilitate their participation in the AGPO tenders.

"We are keen to maintain liaison with leading financial institutions to offer financial support to bidders under the AGPO category,” Kenya Power's General Manager, Supply Chain and Logistics John Ngeno stated. 

Government contracts awarded to marginalised groups hit Ksh45.1 billion for the first time in the financial year to June 2023.

The state has established reforms aimed at supporting the marginalised and minority groups in the country. 

According to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), women, youths and persons living with disability (PWDs) received the highest allocation from the Government through AGPO. 

The AGPO allocation for the 2022/23 financial year marked a 9.9 per cent increase compared to the financial year 2021/22, which totalled Ksh41.05 billion.