The elusive world of government tenders has just been cracked open for the ordinary Kenyan. In a bid to demystify public procurement, the government has rolled out a comprehensive support system at Huduma Centres nationwide, specifically designed to help youth, women, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) access the lucrative Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO).

For years, the complexity of the e-procurement system has acted as a barrier, locking out deserving small business owners from the 30% of government procurement budget reserved for them by law. This new initiative changes the game. By offering walk-in technical assistance, the government is effectively handing the keys to economic empowerment to the demographics that need it most.

Step-by-Step to Success

The process has been streamlined into a user-friendly journey available at any Huduma Centre:

• Registration Assistance: Officers are on hand to guide applicants through the self-registration process on the AGPO portal.
• The *191# Revolution: A simple USSD code now allows users to track tender opportunities and status updates instantly.
• e-GP Portal Training: Technical support is provided for navigating the sometimes complex electronic government procurement (e-GP) system.

We are removing the bureaucracy that kills ambition, stated a Huduma Centre official in Nairobi. If you have a business and you fall into the special categories, there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't be supplying the government

This move is expected to inject billions of shillings directly into the grassroots economy. By empowering small-scale suppliers, the government is not just fulfilling a legal mandate but actively incubating the next generation of Kenyan industrialists. The message is clear: the tenders are there, and now, the help to get them is too.