KNNCI to whip special groups in taking up 30pc government tenders
The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kncci) has been urged to whip special groups to take part in the 30 per cent government tenders.
Gender and Youth Affairs ministry wants the chamber to help them unlock access to more than Sh300 billion meant for the youth, women and people with disability under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (Agpo) programme.
The chief administrative secretary Rachel Shebesh, who was speaking in Machakos, said the government was committed to empowering special groups.
“It is a government policy that 30 per cent of all government tenders must be awarded to special groups. I want to appeal to the chamber’s leadership to partner with us to encourage more people under this category to engage in business,” said Shebesh.
Small businesses
Shebesh was accompanied by Kncci president Richard Ngatia where they issued cheques worth Sh30 miillion to facilitate the Universal Traders Sacco (UTS) to lend women, youth and other special interest groups in small businesses (SMEs).
Ngatia applauded the role the government had played to provide a special kitty for business people particularly the youth, women and people with disability who form the largest segment of SMEs in the country.
“As the CAS has pointed out, Kncci will take the lead to whip our members to seize the existing opportunities to trade and establish businesses,” said Ngatia.
He also promised to set up a special chamber fund to finance businesses by offering affordable interest rates guided by strict lending regulations.
To whip special groups to participate in government procurement, Kncci will raise its direct membership from the current 20,000 to more than two million.
