Health ministry enforces e-GP in procurement, warns there’s no turning back
By Kiprono Keileb, September 10, 2025The Ministry of Health has moved to enforce the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system across all health-related procurement, warning that there will be no reversal of the digital reforms.
Principal Secretary for Health, Ouma Oluga, said the system will be at the heart of transforming service delivery in the health sector. He explained that it is designed to improve efficiency and ensure that Kenyans receive timely healthcare.
“The Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system is central to improving efficiency and ensuring the timely delivery of healthcare services,” he said.
According to Oluga, the reforms extend beyond digitisation, encompassing broader changes to procurement and supply management. He said the Ministry is already rolling out reforms targeting critical areas in the supply chain.
“The Ministry is driving key reforms in supply chain management, strengthening KEMSA, promoting local manufacturing, and embracing digitisation to transform service delivery,” he noted.
The statement was issued after a meeting with procurement officers where the enforcement of e-GP was a central focus.
Procurement officers told to lead rollout
Principal Secretary for Public Investments and Asset Management, Cyrell Wagunda Odede, said officers at the State Department must take responsibility in driving the rollout. He told them that the shift to e-GP was not negotiable. “All government procurement must now be conducted electronically,” he stated.
Odede provided data showing the extent of progress already made. He said the system has already attracted wide participation across government.
“1,285 procuring entities and 7,637 suppliers have already registered, with more than ten institutions uploading their plans,” he revealed.
He added that thousands of officers and suppliers have gone through training and are being assisted through a dedicated help desk to ease the transition.
Digital reforms to cut costs and boost transparency
The Ministry has maintained that e-GP is a tool to reduce corruption loopholes and inefficiencies in procurement. Odede said the benefits will be significant for both the government and taxpayers.
“E-GP will cut costs, shorten procurement cycles, increase transparency, and maximise value for money, while safeguarding confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity in all transactions,” he explained.
He further directed procurement entities to move with speed and align with the system without delay. “All procuring entities must forward budgets, create users, and commence procurement planning, reaffirming that there will be no turning back from the digital shift,” he said.
The hard stance comes in the wake of court rulings that had previously halted the implementation of e-GP. By insisting there is “no turning back,” the Ministry has signalled that it will press ahead regardless of earlier legal setbacks.
The declaration is likely to spark further debate, especially among those who have argued that the system was being rushed without full readiness. However, the Ministry insists that the digital shift is not only necessary but inevitable to secure transparency and efficiency in the health sector.
With the new enforcement directive, procurement in Kenya’s health sector enters a defining phase where compliance with the e-GP system is compulsory, and any resistance will face firm pushback from the Ministry.