Embu: Businesswomen complain of being sidelined in awarding of county tenders



Businesswomen in Embu have accused the County Government of consistently overlooking them and instead favouring men when awarding tenders.
“We find it difficult to get tenders from the county government despite meeting the required qualifications,” they said.
Speaking during a procurement training programme, the over 500 women said they have lost trust in the county’s procurement department.
Others revealed that they gave up applying for the tenders.
They said only a few selected women who know their way through the procurement department are lucky enough to be considered during the tendering process.
The women complained that they are locked out of opportunities that they deserve saying the law requires that they receive 30 percent of Government tenders.
“I have applied for county government tenders for more than 15 times and they have all been unsuccessful despite meeting all the required qualifications. I have since given up,” said Mary Wanja Nyaga, a Siakago business woman.
The County Gender, Culture, Children and Social services Executive Member Joan Mwende said she will liaise with the various county departments to ensure 30 percent of tenders are awarded to women, youth and persons with disabilities.
She said favouritism in awarding of county tenders will not be tolerated and called on the procurement department to comply with procurement rules.
“No one should be denied a tender because of their gender in a competitive process. This is not only unfair but also illegal. We will also investigate to identify the few individuals who allegedly are favoured by the procurement department to consistently be awarded tenders because this cannot be allowed,” she said.
The CEC also called on women to consider applying for tenders that have been advertised, whether by other county government or private institutions so that they have a wide network.
She encouraged them to embrace the various women empowerment programmes such as the Women Enterprise Fund, the Uwezo Fund among others for financial stability.
The women were drawn from Manyatta, Runyenjes, and Mbeere North and Mbeere South constituencies and were trained on procurement and financial management.


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