Treasury Reviews Tender Rules That Could Open More Government Jobs for Youth and Small Businesses

Kenya’s National Treasury is reviewing new rules that could reshape how government contracts are awarded and public assets are disposed of, with a focus on expanding opportunities for youth, women, persons with disabilities and small businesses.

The proposed framework is intended to strengthen accountability in public procurement, prevent the misuse of reserved opportunities and ensure that eligible individuals and businesses benefit from government tenders.

In a public notice issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management invited members of the public and other stakeholders to review the draft document and submit their recommendations.

The invitation targets businesses, professional associations, civil society organisations, development partners, public institutions and members of the public who wish to contribute to the proposed changes.

The draft, titled the Development of Preferences and Reservations in Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Framework, seeks to establish clearer guidelines for determining who qualifies for preferential treatment when government contracts are awarded.

Under the proposed arrangements, eligible groups and businesses could benefit from opportunities involving the supply of goods, provision of services, construction works and the disposal of public assets.

The framework also seeks to strengthen safeguards against practices that undermine fair competition, including the use of other individuals or businesses to qualify for tenders and collusion among bidders.

Such practices can prevent genuinely eligible businesses from accessing opportunities intended to support their participation in government procurement.

The proposed rules would introduce requirements for checking eligibility, registration and verification to establish whether applicants meet the conditions for preferential treatment.

The Treasury also intends to strengthen monitoring, reporting and accountability measures to track how the framework is implemented.

Another key area covered by the proposals is participation by disadvantaged and marginalised communities, alongside micro, small and medium enterprises.

The draft further seeks to encourage local participation and the use of locally available goods and services, potentially creating more opportunities for businesses that can meet government requirements.

However, the proposed framework is still under review. The public notice invites stakeholders to comment on the draft rather than announcing that the new rules have already taken effect.

The Treasury has asked those submitting feedback to identify the specific sections they wish to address and, where possible, recommend precise amendments supported by reasons.

Stakeholders have until Tuesday, November 3, 2026, to submit their views to the State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management. Submissions may be sent through the designated email addresses provided in the official notice or delivered in hard copy to the Principal Secretary in Nairobi.

The consultation offers businesses and other interested parties an opportunity to highlight gaps in the proposed rules and suggest ways to make the allocation of public contracts and assets more transparent and accessible.

The review comes as the government continues efforts to strengthen oversight of public procurement and reduce losses associated with inefficient purchasing practices.

In August 2026, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi directed all 47 county governments to integrate the electronic Government Procurement System (e-GP) with the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) by the end of September.

The integration was intended to improve transparency, efficiency and accountability in government purchasing while helping public institutions obtain better value for money.

The two systems are expected to support closer monitoring of procurement transactions and financial records, addressing concerns about inflated costs in the purchase of goods and services.

The proposed preferential procurement framework forms part of the wider effort to improve the management of public resources while reinforcing the provisions of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015.

For young entrepreneurs, women-owned enterprises, businesses run by persons with disabilities and other eligible groups, the outcome of the review could be important in determining how opportunities are accessed and how compliance with the rules is assessed.

The final impact will depend on the provisions adopted after the consultation process and how effectively the resulting framework is implemented across public institutions.