KISM BACKS THE ROLLOUT OF THE ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT SYSTEM

The Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM) which registers,license, train, discipline and regulate supplies practitioners in Kenya mandated to regulate and professionalize the supply chain management practice is keen on

the successful rollout of the Electronic Government Procurement System (EGPS) which is currently a subject of national conversation.

 The Institute wishes to indicate that it

fully supports government initiative and policy

direction to digitize the public procurement process through the end to end E-GP System.This is a crucial step towards modernizing the procurement processes and the System shall not only enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability but also visibility and tractability of public procurement processes.

KISM boasts of huge  membership of over 28,000 Supply Chain Professionals registered by the Institute which form part of the backbone

of public procurement systems, and are the critical pulse required for seamless, effective and successful rollout of the EGP system, and actively engaged in this transition.

During the Heads of Procurement Forum

held in Mombasa from 12th to 16th August, 2024 officiated by the Prime Cabinet Secretary Hon. Musalia Mudavadi, EGH and the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury, FCPA Hon. John Mbadi,

EGH, and the subsequent Heads of Procurement Forum held from 11th to 15th August, 2025 officiated by the Principal Secretary, Public

Investments and Asset Management, Mr. Cyrell Odede, the Supply Chain Professionals made a timely resolution to embrace, learn,

support and facilitate the rollout of the EGPS System.

The Institute in collaboration

with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), is running a successful capacity building program on ethics for supply chain

professionals thus EGPS is a saviour to

supply chain professionals as a driver of accountability and responsibility to aid in reducing the loopholes characterized by  manual processes but will also reduce any opportunities

for external influences and interference in procurement processes.

Following the Government Directive on this matter, the Institute has been able to undertake the following interventions during the last two

months it has offered technical Capacity development In collaboration with the

National Treasury the Institute has trained 1,317 supply chain management professionals marking a significant milestone in scaling up e-GP awareness and practical skills across the country.

KISM has also conducted Trainer of Trainers (ToT) Programme with the Institute 

nominating over thirty (30) Supply Chain Professionals who are currently being trained in collaboration with The National Treasury at the Kenya School of Government to aid entities in

capacity building and full implementation of the System. The ToTs will be graduating by the end of this week. This will also help meet the growing demand for capacity building by various

public entities for inhouse and structured continuous professional development programmes.

 The Institute and The National Treasury has

recognized that the intensive, practical nature of the course and shall continue to monitor the situation and update supply chain professionals on the emerging issues from time to time during

this transition period.

AGRA ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE 2025 VALUE4HER WOMEN AGRIPRENUERS OF THE YEAR AWARDS AT THE AFRICA FOOD SYSTEMS FORUM IN DAKAR

AGRA has announced the winners of the 2025 Women Agripreneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA) during the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum) held in Dakar, Senegal.The WAYA awards celebrate the remarkable achievements of women leaders who are transforming Africa’s agricultural landscape through innovation, resilience and a commitment to empowering their communities.

 This year's winners were selected from a highly competitive pool of almost 2000 applicants, representing the continent's most inspiring and impactful women in agribusiness. 

The finalists showcase diverse innovations in value addition, ag-tech, community leadership, and sustainable farming across Africa. Representing diverse countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.

A total of USD 300,000 in grant funding was awarded to the 10 winners announced during a live ceremony, in the categories: Grand Prize Winner, Women Empowerment Champion, Resilient & Inspirational Leader, Outstanding Value-Adding Enterprise, Female Ag-Tech Innovator, Young Female Agripreneur (Rising Star) Young Female Agripreneur (Rising Star) - Regional Winners.

The WAYA 2025 winners by category included:

Grand Prize Winner: Mathildah Amollo from Kenya was crowned the ultimate WAYA Grand Prize Winner.Women Empowerment Champion: Juliet Kakwerre N Tumusiime founder and CEO of Cheveux Organique, from Uganda.

Resilient & Inspirational Leader: Julienne Olawolé Agossadou founder of SEDAMI – La Reine des Champignons from Benin.

Outstanding Value-Adding Enterprise: Roberta Edu-Oyedokun, founder and CEO of Moppet Foods, Nigeria Female Ag-Tech Innovator: Joyce Waithira Rugano, founder of Ecorich Solutions Kenya.Young Female Agripreneur (Rising Star): Onicca Sibanyona Founder of Jwale Farms, South Africa.

Speaking during the fifth edition of the WAYA awarding ceremony, Alice Ruhweza, President of AGRA, remarked, “Across every category, these founders have turned constraints into thriving enterprises. Collectively, they’ve increased annual incomes by an estimated 35 per cent, saved millions of tonnes of produce from spoilage, and delivered food to over 500,000 households across the region. Their businesses prove that innovation and resilience are alive across Africa’s food systems.

 AGRA role is to back them with stronger policy support, smarter finance, and access to bigger markets so they can multiply their reach and drive systemic change.”Nana Yaa Boakyewaa Amoah, Director for Gender, Youth & Inclusiveness at AGRA, added, “The pipeline of women agripreneurs is deep and growing. We are seeing more technology-driven models, more regional trade links, and real evidence of job creation, especially for women and youth. 

VALUE4HER exists to open doors to capital, buyers, and the right networks so these women can lead from the front. Their success is vital to inclusive food systems transformation across the continent.”One of the WAYA 2025 judges, Martha Haile, Founder & CEO, Abze Africa, observed that this year's applicants highlighted the remarkable fortitude of women entrepreneurs:

“As a judge, I was consistently impressed by the ingenuity and grit on display. 

These women leaders faced significant barriers with an incredible ability to adapt. Examples ranged from using sensors to protect bee colonies to innovating waste-to-income models. Their work goes beyond mere survival; it redefines resilience. It is a true honour to celebrate a generation of leaders who are not only building and scaling their businesses but also uplifting entire communities.”

The WAYA initiative, launched at the AGRF 2021 Summit, has become a cornerstone of AGRA’s efforts to strengthen women’s agribusiness enterprises across the continent. WAYA is an inititaive of VALUE4HER, AGRA’s continental program that supports the ecosystem of womenin agribusiness.

LG ELECTRONICS AND OPALNET LTD HOST SEMINAR TO EMPOWER KENYA'S COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY SECTOR AS DEMAND CLIMBS 25%

The demand for commercial laundry services in Kenya has grown  tremendously over the last three years, with data from Opalnet Ltd, the leading distributor of LG Electronics (LG) 

products, indicating a 25% leap in uptake.

This surge is driven by rapid urbanization, currently estimated at 4.5% annually1, alongside an increasingly enlightened population supported by a 35% internet penetration rate2 Improved access to electricity has also been a key enabler, with the country recording a 42% rise in connectivity over the last decade to reach 79% today3

Eager to align with modern lifestyles, which include fast-paced jobs and limited time for household chores, Kenya’s upwardly mobile and youthful population is increasingly embracing commercial laundry services. The growth of the 

hospitality and medical industries has also contributed to an increase in demand for commercial laundry services,creating unprecedented revenue generation opportunities for entrepreneurs. 

Today, a single 8-machine laundromat can earn revenues of between KES 250,000 and KES400,000 per month depending on the location and foot traffic, with the initial investment recouped within 12–18 months for wellplaced laundromats.

To further strengthen capacity within this thriving sector, LG, in collaboration with Opalnet Ltd, hosted a Commercial Washing Machine Seminar in Nairobi on 29 August 2025. The event brought together approximately 60 industry 

professionals, entrepreneurs, and key stakeholders to explore the latest trends, technologies, and best practices 

in commercial laundry operations.

LG’s Home Solutions Product Director for East Africa, KH Jeong, noted that the company remains committed to supporting entrepreneurs who are investing in the laundromat business. 

“Commercial laundry services are today an essential solution in urban Kenya. Through this seminar, we equipped operators with knowledge and technology that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and ultimately deliver better 

service to customers,” he said.

LG, a global leader in home and commercial appliances, continues to innovate in the laundry segment by providing 

high-performance, energy-efficient washing machines designed for businesses of all sizes.

 The company’s commercial washers and dryers feature advanced technologies such as energy-saving Inverter Direct Drive 

motors, TurboWash™ cycles, and smart diagnostics.

1 https://unhabitat.org/kenya

2

https://datacommons.org/place/country/KEN?utm_medium=explore&mprop=count&popt=Pe

LG washers and dryers, for example, reduce energy costs by up to 40%, offer faster wash cycles, and have a lifespan of over 10 years, making them the most recommended choice for laundromats, apartments, hotels,hospitals, and boarding schools. These machines allow businesses to maximize throughput while delivering premium convenience to clients.

Speaking during the seminar, Opalnet’s B2B Business CEO, Brian Kitui, reaffirmed his company role in ensuring availability, after-sales support, and tailored solutions for local entrepreneurs.

“We recognize that commercial laundry solutions are becoming an important part of the Kenyan urban economy,and our role is to work closely with LG in delivering equipment and services that allow investors to maximize returns

while maintaining world-class standards,” said Opalnet’s B2B Business CEO, Brian Kitui.

The seminar also provided participants with case studies of successful laundromat businesses in Kenya,highlighting strategies for profitability, customer retention, and sustainability. Sessions covered topics rangingfrom machine maintenance and energy management to digital payment solutions that align with Kenya’s mobile first economy.

HR LEADERS URGED TO PROVIDE GREATER VALUE TO TALENT IN THE AGE OF AI

 

 Organizations have been challenged to build talent pipelines that are resilient, innovative, and fit for the future in the face of unprecedented disruption from artificial intelligence (AI), demographic shifts, and changing employee expectations.

Speaking at the opening of the HR Summit 2025, Karim Anjarwalla, Senior Partner at ALN Kenya, Anjarwalla & Khanna reiterated the urgency of rethinking talent strategies, highlighting the profound shifts AI and technology are bringing to the world of work.“Artificial intelligence is not just changing what we do, but how we learn, how we hire, and how we lead. Unlike past innovations that amplified human productivity, AI risks removing human beings from the centre of work. This is one of the generational challenges of our time, and Africa must be proactive in responding,” he said.

Mr Anjarwalla also noted that Africa faces a double challenge of bridging foundational education gaps while racing to catch up with AI’s exponential acceleration and emphasized that the real differentiator for organizations will be how they integrate talent and innovation to stay competitive.

According to Sundeep Raichura, Zamara Group CEO pointed to the realities of AI, shifting demographics, debates around globalization and protectionism, and growing expectations for equity, flexibility, and inclusion in the workplace.

“A few years ago, flexible work was seen as a perk. Today it’s a baseline expectation. AI was once dismissed as hype in HR circles, but in 2025, bots are reshaping talent acquisition, learning, and employee engagement. But the future of work cannot be about technology alone, it must be about people. Whether workplaces remain human-centered or become technology-dominated depends on the choices we make as leaders,” he emphasized.

“Innovation must serve humanity and not replace it. HR leaders are no longer backroom administrators, but are strategists, culture shapers, and in many ways, the conscience of organizations. Africa’s workforce should be our greatest asset, future-ready, not future-fearful,” he added.

Themed “Fit for Future”, this year’s Summit focuses on creating future-ready workplaces by addressing skills transformation, leadership resilience, and cultural adaptation. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, 83% of core skills will change by 2030, with AI literacy, data analysis, and technology fluency rising fastest.