Role of the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) Program in Promoting Inclusion of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities in Public Procurement

Public procurement is a powerful tool for advancing inclusive economic development, particularly in emerging economies like Kenya where state spending accounts for a significant portion of GDP. To address historical exclusion in access to public tenders, the Government of Kenya launched the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) program in 2013. The initiative, grounded in Article 227 of the Constitution and operationalized through the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act (2015), reserves 30% of government procurement for enterprises owned by women, youth, and persons with disabilities. This article explores the role of AGPO in enhancing the participation of these special interest groups in public procurement by examining its policy framework, operational mechanisms, and outcomes. Findings indicate that AGPO has led to increased registration of target-group enterprises, improved livelihoods, and notable success stories. However, challenges such as low awareness, limited capacity, delayed payments, corruption, and inadequate access to finance continue to hinder its full realization. The article concludes by offering policy recommendations to strengthen AGPO implementation, including the need for robust monitoring, simplified registration, expanded training, and prompt payment systems. Overall, AGPO remains a vital yet underutilized policy instrument with the potential to significantly transform Kenya’s public procurement landscape into a more inclusive and equitable space. Keywords: Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) &Public Procurement