A New Digital Mandate

NAIROBI – Effective Tuesday, 4 November 2025 – The Kenyan government has fully transitioned its public procurement processes to a mandatory digital platform, the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system, in a landmark reform intended to bring unprecedented transparency and efficiency to public spending. The National Treasury officially launched the system on Monday, 7 April 2025, following a directive from President William Ruto in his State of the Nation address on 21 November 2024. As of 1 July 2025, all government procurement for ministries, departments, agencies, and county governments must be conducted exclusively through the e-GP portal.

This shift marks a significant overhaul of a system historically plagued by opacity and inefficiency. Public procurement, which accounts for a substantial portion of the national budget, has long been susceptible to corruption. The new end-to-end digital system is designed to automate and standardize the entire procurement lifecycle—from planning and tendering to contract management and payment—creating an auditable digital trail for every transaction.

System Rollout and Early Impact

The implementation follows a seven-year development and piloting phase involving consultations with various stakeholders. According to The National Treasury, the system's goals include reducing procurement costs by 10-15%, minimizing tender cycle times, and enhancing value for money. Within months of its mandatory rollout, early data indicated significant uptake, with over 1,500 procuring entities and more than 26,000 suppliers onboarded onto the platform. The system is accessible at www.egpkenya.go.ke, where suppliers are required to self-register to participate in government tenders.

To facilitate the transition, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) temporarily suspended all new tenders for the 2025/2026 financial year leading up to the July 1st deadline to ensure a seamless migration. The National Treasury has also been conducting nationwide training for public officials to build capacity for using the new platform. The e-GP system integrates with other key government databases, including the Kenya Revenue Authority's iTax, the Business Registration Service, and the Integrated Population Registration System, to streamline verification and reduce fraud.

Challenges and Regional Context

Despite the optimistic launch, the transition has not been without its challenges. The Council of Governors (CoG) has previously raised concerns about a rushed implementation, citing capacity gaps and a lack of adequate consultation with county governments. Some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have also reported difficulties with onboarding, pointing to limited ICT knowledge and the costs of digital compliance as significant barriers. These issues echo persistent challenges noted in the broader implementation of the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS), which the e-GP system is designed to complement. Critics have noted that while digital systems can streamline processes, they are not immune to manipulation without robust oversight and enforcement of anti-corruption regulations.

Regionally, Kenya's move positions it alongside Rwanda as a leader in digital procurement transformation in the East African Community (EAC). Both countries have fully implemented their e-GP systems, while neighbours like Uganda and Tanzania are in earlier stages of adoption. Studies suggest that successful e-GP implementation across the EAC could significantly reduce transaction costs and enhance transparency, though challenges related to infrastructure and digital literacy remain prevalent throughout the region.

The Way Forward

The government has maintained a firm stance on the reform. Speaking at the launch, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Hon. FCPA John Mbadi Ng'ongo stated that the system is a critical policy action grounded in the Constitution's call for a fair, transparent, and competitive procurement system. He warned that any resistance to the digital shift would not be tolerated. The PPRA, under Director General Patrick Wanjuki, is tasked with monitoring compliance and enforcing the mandatory use of the system. The success of this ambitious digital overhaul now hinges on sustained political will, continuous capacity building for all users, and the government's ability to address the technical and accessibility challenges that have emerged. For Kenyan citizens and businesses, the e-GP system represents a powerful tool for holding the government accountable for every shilling spent.