The National Treasury has announced the reshuffling of 27 procurement officers across various ministries and state departments in a move aimed at addressing staffing gaps and rationalizing supply chain functions.
In a circular dated September 26, 2025, Treasury Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Chris Kiptoo directed the affected officers to report to their new workstations by September 30, 2025. The circular, signed on behalf of Dr. Kiptoo by Cyrell Odede Wagunda, emphasized that the transfers were made following requests from different state departments seeking to strengthen their supply chain management functions.
Among those moved is Assistant Director of Supply Chain Management, Kennedy Kinoti Marangu, who shifts from the State Department of Environment and Climate Change to the State Department for Medical Services. Monica Chepkemoi, previously with the National Police Service, has also been redeployed to Afya House. Others include Frank Boiwo Kiptoo, transferred to the State Department of Cabinet Affairs, and Mary Kerubo Obae, who moves to the Ministry of Education’s Basic Education Department.
The directive comes at a time when government procurement has slowed down significantly, with many state agencies struggling to transition to the new e-Government Procurement (eGP) platform. Reports indicate that procurement of goods and services has stalled during the first quarter of the financial year due to inadequate training and lack of preparedness among officers.
Despite these challenges, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has ruled out rolling back the system. He told the National Assembly’s Committee on Implementation that eGP, a World Bank-supported initiative, had undergone pilot testing in 12 government entities and received cabinet approval.
Mbadi noted that the new platform is designed to enhance transparency, reduce costs, and improve efficiency in public procurement. “The implementation of eGP will reduce the cost of goods, works and services while increasing transparency in procurement processes,” he said.
The reshuffle is expected to bolster capacity in key ministries as the government pushes for full adoption of the digital procurement system.
