Understanding Where Kenya Stands in Public Procurement

The Government of Kenya recently completed a comprehensive assessment of its public procurement system using the internationally recognized MAPS (Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems) framework. This groundbreaking evaluation provides invaluable insights into how the country manages billions in public spending and identifies crucial areas for improvement.

Please download the full report below:

The Big Picture: A System with Strong Foundations but Room to Grow

Kenya’s public procurement sector is substantial—during fiscal year 2023/2024 alone, over 34,000 contracts worth KES 262.8 billion were reported. With GDP estimated at $120-121 billion USD and government expenditure exceeding KES 4 trillion, effective procurement systems are essential for economic development and service delivery.

The assessment reveals a public procurement framework that is comprehensive and well-structured, aligned with international best practices. However, implementation challenges and systemic gaps prevent the system from reaching its full potential.

Four Critical Areas Demanding Attention

1. Simplifying an Overly Complex System

Kenya’s procurement framework includes numerous methods and procedures—so many that choosing and applying the right one has become unnecessarily complicated. The assessment found that:

• Practitioners often focus on formal compliance rather than achieving value for money
• The large number of procurement methods creates confusion about which to use when
• Small procuring entities (like primary schools) struggle to meet all requirements
• Procedures prioritize purchase price over life-cycle costs and quality

The recommendation: Streamline procedures, reduce their number, and create simpler options for low-value procurement while maintaining competitive principles.

2. Strengthening Transparency and Data Accessibility

While Kenya has established the Public Procurement Information Portal (PPIP) and is rolling out an ambitious e-procurement system (e-GP), significant transparency gaps remain:

• Only about 73% of major procuring entities publish tender notices as required
• Contract amendments and variations often go unreported
• Payment delays are widespread, with many invoices paid beyond the 60-day legal limit
• Incomplete reporting makes it difficult to analyze system performance or identify corruption

The recommendation: Fully leverage the e-GP system to ensure all procurement information is automatically captured, published, and accessible in machine-readable formats.

3. Building Capacity Across All Levels

Despite progress in professionalizing procurement, capacity gaps persist:

• Over 34,500 procuring entities exist, but many are too small to employ qualified staff
• Only about 3,000 registered procurement professionals serve the entire system
• Needs analysis and market research are often inadequate or skipped entirely
• Sustainability criteria are rarely incorporated into procurement decisions

The recommendation: Massively expand training programs, restructure small procuring entities to ensure adequate capacity, and harmonize professional standards across the public service.

4. Combating Corruption and Ensuring Accountability

Kenya ranked 121st out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index. The assessment identified several integrity challenges:

• High fees discourage legitimate complaints to the review board (only 100-200 complaints annually for over 34,000 contracts)
• Whistleblower protections remain weak
• Asset declarations by public officers lack proper verification
• Limited transparency about how corruption cases are investigated and sanctioned

The recommendation: Abolish prohibitive complaint fees, strengthen whistleblower protections, make asset declarations public, and establish dedicated channels for reporting procurement-related corruption.

The Path Forward: Fourteen Strategic Priorities

The assessment concludes with fourteen consolidated recommendations for reform, prioritized for implementation within 1-3 years:

1. Restructure and harmonize the legal framework to eliminate contradictions between laws and regulations
2. Redefine procuring entities to ensure all have adequate capacity and resources
3. Simplify procurement procedures to make them easier to understand and apply
4. Align eligibility requirements with actual needs rather than creating unnecessary barriers
5. Develop sustainable procurement practices integrating environmental and social criteria
6. Improve guidance materials that are current, practical, and accessible
7. Expand capacity building with harmonized professional standards
8. Maximize e-procurement efficiency to reduce administrative burden
9. Enhance transparency through comprehensive, accessible data
10. Improve budget management to eliminate payment delays
11. Expand stakeholder dialogue, including civil society engagement
12. Strengthen the review system to make it accessible and effective
13. Improve oversight coordination among regulatory authorities
14. Intensify anti-corruption efforts with better protections and enforcement

What This Means for Kenya’s Development

Effective public procurement is not just about following rules—it’s about achieving value for money, delivering quality services, creating economic opportunities, and building public trust. The MAPS assessment provides Kenya with a clear roadmap for transforming procurement from a compliance exercise into a strategic tool for national development.

With political will, adequate resources, and coordinated implementation, these reforms could:

• Save billions in public funds through improved efficiency
• Accelerate infrastructure development and service delivery
• Create more opportunities for SMEs and disadvantaged groups
• Strengthen the fight against corruption
• Enhance Kenya’s competitiveness and governance rankings

The assessment represents a milestone in Kenya’s ongoing public finance reforms. Now comes the critical work of implementation—translating these findings into concrete actions that will shape how billions in public resources are managed for years to come.

Download the full MAPS Assessment Report to explore detailed findings, data, and recommendations across all 14 indicators and 4 pillars of the assessment: