On July 1, 2025, Kenya will officially launch the Electronic Government Procurement system—an ambitious and long-overdue reform that promises to overhaul the way public contracts are awarded and executed.
For many, procurement is a technical or bureaucratic affair, but in reality, procurement affects every aspect of daily life. It determines whether roads are built on time, whether medicine reaches hospitals without delay, whether textbooks arrive in schools at the start of term and whether businesses across the country access government opportunities fairly.
For years, the public procurement process has been undermined by inefficiencies, opaqueness and, in some cases, misuse of public funds. The E-GP system is Kenya’s response to these persistent challenges. By digitising the entire procurement cycle—from planning and tendering to contract award and payment—the platform will bring transparency, speed and fairness to how taxpayer money is spent. Every transaction will leave a digital footprint. Every tender will be accessible to all qualified bidders. Every shilling will be traceable.
But let's get it from the outset – digital transformation is never just about software – it is about people. A system, no matter how robust, is only as effective as those who use it. That’s why the National Treasury has placed human capacity at the heart of the E-GP rollout.
Since late 2024, we have trained over 400 suppliers through hands-on sessions, webinars and interactive forums. These trainings have focused not just on system navigation, but also on encouraging early adoption—particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises, which often struggle to access procurement opportunities.
To build lasting institutional capacity, we have partnered with the Kenya School of Government to incorporate E-GP training into its formal curriculum. Through this partnership, we aim to train at least 840 public officers from the national government and 735 from county governments—including procurement experts, ICT staff and finance officers. These sessions also address change management, highlighting how digital procurement can reduce delays, simplify approvals, and strengthen audit preparedness.
The reforms are already being tested in real-world settings. Ministries, departments and agencies have begun uploading procurement plans, registering suppliers and running end-to-end trials. Several pilot institutions—including the Office of the Auditor-General, KenGen, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and selected counties—have provided valuable feedback that is helping us fine-tune the system ahead of the national launch.
At the same time, we have established a helpdesk and technical support unit to ensure that suppliers and public officials receive real-time assistance, especially during the transition period.
Strong political will is driving this reform forward. In his 2024 State of the Nation Address, President William Ruto declared that beginning July 2025, only procurements processed through the E-GP platform would be valid and payable. This clear directive has spurred both public institutions and private suppliers into action. The National Treasury has issued detailed operational guidelines to support the transition and to ensure that no one is left behind.
Ultimately, the success of this reform depends on shared responsibility. Accounting officers must lead from the front, ensuring that their institutions are fully prepared for the shift. Suppliers must register early and become familiar with the digital tendering process. Oversight institutions, civil society and the media must leverage the new transparency to strengthen accountability. As you can see, everyone has a role to play.
Globally, digital procurement systems have transformed governance in countries such as South Korea, Chile and Rwanda—enhancing efficiency, curbing corruption and delivering better value for public funds. Kenya is building on these global best practices while tailoring the system to meet our unique governance needs.
The launch of E-GP is not simply a technological upgrade—it is a national turning point. It marks the beginning of a new culture in public service: one grounded in openness, accountability and efficiency. It is a signal that the era of paper-based procurement, riddled with loopholes, is ending. In its place, we are establishing a digital system where every process is visible, every player is accountable and every citizen has a reason to trust.
The government wishes to assure Kenyans that this is more than a platform; it is a promise. A promise that public resources will be used with integrity, that value for money will no longer be an aspiration but a standard, and that procurement will serve all Kenyans—not just the well-connected few. As we prepare for the July rollout, let us walk this journey together—with clarity, coordination and commitment.
With E-GP, we are not just modernising procurement; we are building a stronger, more transparent Kenya.
Principal Secretary, The National Treasury
