The Commission held a workshop to validate the Annual Procurement and Disposal Plan for Financial Year 2023 – 2024 on 27th September to 3rd October 2023. This is part of standardizing the process of acquiring goods, works and services to meet organizational needs in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner.
Deputy Commission Secretary (DCS - Support Services), Obadiah Keitany, thanked staff in the Directorate of Supply Chain Management for their hard work that enabled the Commission to timely procure the necessary materials for the GE2022. This good work was recognized and had the Commission feted by the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management.
“The reduction in the number of audit queries, litigations and pending bills is proof that the Commission has matured and perfected how it procures works, goods and services,” said Keitany.
Procurement planning is guided by the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act (PPADA, 2015). The Act applies to all state organs and public entities for procurement planning and processing, inventory and asset management, disposal of assets and contract management.
A procurement plan enhances transparency, accountability, predictability and provides a good framework to inform monitoring and evaluation. The plan ensures works, goods and services are procured on time, for timely service delivery, and ensuring the Commission gets value for budgeted money.
“Procurement is a process and not an event and planning is key in any procurement process to be successful. Each procurement process must be undertaken within the approved budget and in strict adherence to Article 227 of the Constitution to avoid delays, cancellation or litigations,” said Khadija Ramadhani, Manager Supply Chain Management.
“Article 227 of the Constitution of Kenya (2010) provides for new standards for public procurement. The article requires public procurement to be carried out in a manner that is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost effective,” she said.
Dr. Harley Mutisya, the Director Supply Chain Management, said the Government plans to devolve the IFMIS system to the 47 counties, which implies that all procurement processes will be digitalized. “This calls for all staff to be trained on procurement matters in preparation for the digitization of the processes by the GoK,” he said.