The Kenyan National Treasury is set to roll out electronic procurement in July as parts of efforts to automate and streamline government financial management processes and procedures.

The e-procurement process will be implemented under the the Financial Management Information System (IFMIS).

Speaking at the New Stanley Hotel in Nairobi at the opening of the supplier training and sensitisation forum, cabinet secretary Henry Rotich said electronic procurement will provide an efficient and streamlined purchasing and payment system by fully automating the process.

“This will increase control and visibility over the entire life-cycle of a procurement transaction from procurement planning to payment,” said Rotich.

“Electronic procurement will therefore play a key role in prudent government financial management and resource allocation.”

The training and sensitisation of suppliers is being conducted in readiness for the rollout of a fully automated procurement system to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and counties in July.

“As suppliers you must now be ready for this electronic procurement go-live,” said Rotich.

The National Treasury, through IFMIS, is holding nationwide one-day supplier training and sensitisation events between May 12 and 21 in 13 cities and towns: Nairobi, Machakos, Mombasa, Malindi, Garissa, Embu, Nyeri, Isiolo, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kakamega, Kisumu and Kisii.

National Treasury principal secretary Dr Kamau Thugge said key procurement functionalities have been configured in the IFMIS system ready for implementation.

They include procurement planning, supplier management, requisition management, quotation management, purchase order (PO) management, receipt management as well as invoicing and payments management, inventory management, contract management, reconciliations and period end close.

“Let us all embrace electronic procurement. This will ensure that procurement of goods and services is done fairly, equitably, transparently, competitively and in a cost effective manner,” said Dr Thugge