Kurui Isaac speaking at Tom Mboya Labour College on Friday. He said professionalism will spur growth of SMEs. [Photo: hivisasa.com]
Entrepreneurs in Kisumu County have been urged not to give bribes in their bid of securing tenders in both government and private institutions.
This happened in a sensitisation program for regional empowerment of youth, women and persons living with disability convened at Labour Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu.
While addressing Company Directors and businesspersons, Vincensia Apopa, Supply Chain Manager at the National Construction Authority (NCA) said bidders have a central role to play in curbing corruption during tendering.
She warned those who encouraged the vice saying it promoted unfair treatment for applicants of the same tender.
Kurui Isaac, a Certified Public Accountant, at the NCA who also addressed the business community, appreciated the role played by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), saying they were a plus in the Kenyan economy.
He said that SMEs had boosted the growth of Kenya and contribute to 10 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He continued to mention that the role played by SMEs is critical as they currently provide employment to 7.5 million Kenyans which is 80 per cent of the employed population.
He urged the youth and disabled to participate in applying for tenders as the government has allocated 30 per ce of its tenders to them.
Out of 30 per cent, persons living with disability have been allocated 2.5 per cent of government tenders.
He nonetheless emphasized on young entrepreneurs to embrace professional finance record keeping so that they are able to monitor the growth of their businesses.
Kurui discouraged the use of quark methods in managing investments as they pose tragic ramifications.
“SMEs face a bleak future in in terms of access to loans and growth due to lack of universally accepted finance data keeping methods,” said Kurui.