Nairobi — Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, in partnership with GIZ and Strathmore University's @iLabAfrica, has announced the launch of the upgraded Public Procurement Information Platform.

The fully automated PPIP will be used for the publication of contract awards and tender notices by procuring entities.

They remained confident that the automation and enhancement of the platform will be instrumental in upholding procurement standards and addressing previous backlogs in tender details.

The procurement system, which was originally launched in 2018, currently has about 1,500 registered procurement entities, of which 300 to 800 are active. The advancement aims to scale up this to over 34,000 procurement entities with enhanced efficiency and accountability.

According to Jimmy Kahindi, Chairman of PPRA, the platform has over the past seven years been focal in disclosing public procurement information to the public.

"This event is the culmination of a collective effort that began back in July 2018, when PPIP was originally launched following the issuance of Executive Order No.2 of 2018. Since then the platform has continuously delivered the key principle of transparency, accountability, openness, and enhanced disclosure of public procurement information to the public," he stated.

George Murugu, who is the Chairman of the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board (PPARB), said that the portal will also be pivotal in accelerating the country's economic metamorphosis.

"The enhanced portal is a testament to the goals of the review board as it ensures a seamless procurement process that is transparent, accountable, and free from corruption. This not only safeguards public funds but also promotes confidence in the system," he stated.