The Chairman of the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management, John Karani has said that the adoption of the electronic procurement system would significantly enhance accountability and transparency in the supply chain processes in the country.
He reiterated that by automating and digitizing transactions, the system would reduce opportunities for malpractice, ensure better governance, and create a more open and competitive environment.
This shift is expected to foster greater trust and efficiency within procurement operations, benefiting both public institutions and stakeholders.
Speaking at the 3rd edition of the Supply Chain National Dialogue held at Sarova Whitesands Mombasa, themed ‘Strengthening National Supply Chains for Innovation, Resilience, and Global Competitiveness’ Karani noted that the issue of supply chain and corruption has unfortunately been interlinked for too long but added that they were now instilling discipline among their members, and ensuring segregation of duties while holding everyone accountable as they transit to the adoption of e-procurement.
He noted that the theme was strategically curated as the procurement and supply chain landscape is challenged by issues such as fragmentation, limited technological adoption, and inadequate sustainability practices.
Karani stated that KISM aims to be the primary authority on all matters related to supply chain management, thereby easing the burden on its members.
He emphasized the importance of partnerships with organizations like the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
These collaborations, he said, are designed to promote a deeper understanding of procurement as a structured and collaborative process rather than a one-person effort.
“I am telling my members to refuse to be the conveyers of corrupt activities because we can stop it by vigorously ensuring the processes are followed and ensuring segregation of duties. We are just facilitators of the process but we get blamed when things go wrong in between,” Karani said.
He noted that the institute developed the Disciplinary Manual and that the Disciplinary Committee Members have been trained by the Judiciary Training Institute adding that a total of 45 cases have been so far been handled by the committee.
Karani underscored the fact that e-procurement is a vital pillar in the fight against corruption and enhancing transparency and accountability within the system.
He emphasized the organization’s ongoing efforts to empower the supply chain sector in response to numerous dynamic changes affecting the industry.
“Looking at recent challenges, the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war, and the Israel conflict, have significantly reshaped the global supply chain and procurement landscape, posing new challenges and requiring innovative strategies to adapt to the shifting environment,” Karani said.
He further highlighted the role of technology in strengthening supply chains to meet members’ evolving needs and stated that leveraging emerging technologies is critical to ensuring supply chain continuity and enabling institutions to be served consistently.
“It’s really about addressing the issue of disruption in the supply chain and how they impact the overall supply points in the economy, because the supply chain cuts across everything, the delivery of goods and services, and even logistics,” Karani said.
He emphasized proper planning to bolster supply chain resilience, while underscoring the need for robust contingency planning to promote local economic growth, reduce reliance on imports, and strengthen stability.
The Director of Public Procurement at the National Treasury Eric Korir reiterated that the implementation of the e-procurement system was a key reform noting that by April 1, 2025, all ministries, departments, and government agencies would be required to transact exclusively on this platform.
This shift, Korir said, aimed at enhancing efficiency by eliminating manual processes that have long been associated with governance challenges.
Adoption of e-procurement is expected to bring transformative changes, including increased transparency and accountability.
Furthermore, it will encourage broader bidder participation in tendering processes, ultimately ensuring better value for money.
The CEO of Kenya Institute of Supply Chain Management, Kenneth Matiba said that this year’s edition has been attended by more than 1000 participants as they have representatives drawn from South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Uganda, and Ethiopia as they seek to position KISM as the African Centre for Supply Chain Excellence.
By Fatma Said
