Tendering Process and Procurement Performance of Agop at Rerec in Kenya

The study aimed to examine the tendering process and procurement performance of the AGPO programme at REREC, targeting youth, women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs). The specific objectives were to determine the influence of technical capability, information availability, on procurement performance. The study also sought to highlight key drivers of procurement performance and create awareness of AGPO’s contribution to empowering special groups. The study was anchored on empowerment theory, supported by institutional theory and the resource-based view. A descriptive research design was adopted. Using stratified random sampling, 150 participants were selected from a population of 1,500. Data were collected through questionnaires, and a pilot study was conducted with 10 randomly chosen employees. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 27, employing descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis. Tables and figures were used for presentation. The findings revealed a strong positive correlation between the tendering process and procurement performance of AGPO. Technical capability was significantly associated with procurement performance, with changes in capability directly influencing outcomes. Information availability also had a major impact, and variations in access to information explained differences in procurement performance. The study recommended that REREC strengthen accountability and enforcement mechanisms to ensure AGPO achieves its intended goals. It emphasized the need to improve access to tender information, especially for marginalized groups in rural areas who lacked access to government portals and publications. Preferences and reservations under AGPO also required better documentation and understanding. The findings suggested that further research should expand to other industries and assess how public institutions, private firms, and SMEs implement AGPO-related practices. Additionally, knowledge generation and quality management processes should be integrated into both internal and external organizational operations.