Kenyan Government Awards Sh33.1 Billion in Contracts to Women-Owned Businesses

The Kenyan government has made significant strides in promoting enterprise diversity through its procurement policies by awarding contracts worth Sh33.1 billion to women-owned businesses. This funding, part of the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) program, represents a substantial 58.3% of the total procurement budget, totaling Sh56.8 billion for the financial year ending June 2025. This noteworthy initiative underscores the Kenyan government's commitment to increasing female participation in public procurement, although it highlights a broader issue concerning the underperformance of women entrepreneurs in accessing these opportunities.

Despite being the largest beneficiary group in the Kenyan procurement landscape, women entrepreneurs face various systemic challenges that limit their access to government contracts. According to recent findings from the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and the National Treasury, women have secured only 18.1% of the total AGPO opportunities available, falling short of the 30% mandated by the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015. This discrepancy can be attributed to several factors, including limited access to financial resources, inadequate capacity, and minimal representation in leadership roles within the procurement sector.

The need for addressing these barriers has come to the forefront, as emphasized during the third Women in Procurement and Supply Chain Management Conference in Mombasa. Stakeholders at the conference highlighted the fact that while women constitute a significant portion of the procurement workforce, they represent fewer than 20% in senior leadership positions. Jeniffer Cirindi Njiru, chairperson of the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM), strongly urged industry leaders to implement structured systems to facilitate women’s advancement within the procurement framework. This emphasized the urgency of changing the narrative surrounding women's capacity in this sector.

As a response to these persistent challenges, the upcoming SHEconomy Summit 2026, taking place in Nairobi on May 28-29, promises to be a pivotal event aimed at bridging the existing financing gap. Gathered by Recolte Limited founder and CEO Betty Karimi, the summit is expected to attract over 1,000 women entrepreneurs and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) from all 47 counties. The event will focus on empowering women-led businesses through discussions on innovative financing solutions and capacity building, essential for converting procurement opportunities into successful contracts. The summit aims to transcend being merely a dialogue platform and instead act as an economic intervention with concrete outcomes.

Attendees can expect specialized masterclasses and financing sessions designed to enhance their business acumen and improve their ability to compete for tenders. This includes providing access to vital financing tools such as bid bonds, performance guarantees, and invoice discounting, which many smaller companies often find prohibitive. Karimi has articulated this initiative as a potential turning point, asserting, “We are standing at the edge of a defining economic shift—not a gender conversation, but an economic revolution.” The insights and networking opportunities presented at the SHEconomy Summit could align the strategies of various stakeholders with government priorities on gender inclusion, ultimately enhancing supplier diversity and participation rates among women-owned businesses in public procurement.

Kenya’s journey towards ensuring gender parity in procurement offers critical lessons for other nations seeking to integrate inclusiveness into their public contracting strategies. By fostering supportive environments for women entrepreneurs, governments can drive broader economic growth and innovation that benefits entire communities.

• Women-owned businesses received Sh33.1 billion in government contracts in FY 2025.
• 58.3% of total procurement awards went to women-owned enterprises under AGPO.
• Access to opportunities for women is only 18.1%, below the 30% mandated by law.
• The SHEconomy Summit 2026 aims to empower over 1,000 women entrepreneurs through financing and capacity building.
• Women in procurement hold fewer than 20% of senior leadership roles, indicating a need for structural change.
• Recolte Limited specializes in trade finance solutions to support SMEs in accessing financing.
• Stakeholder involvement is crucial in implementing reforms to support women's advancement in procurement.
• Kenyan government initiatives reflect a growing commitment to gender inclusion in public procurement processes.
• Insights from the summit can help align business strategies with national procurement priorities.