The Principal Secretary for Public Investments and Assets Management Mr. Cyrell Wagunda today attended the third edition of Women in Procurement and Supply Chain Conference (WiPSCC ) that is happening in Mombasa.

The five-day conference convened by the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management ((KISM) under the theme: 'Give to Gain: Empowering Kenya's Women Leaders in Procurement and Supply Chains attracted a wide spectrum of leaders including Her Excellency Amb. Ida Odinga, Kenya's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

The Conference is aimed at strengthening professional leadership, sharing ideas and expand opportunities for women within the supply chain ecosystem.

PS Wagunda observed that, procurement and supply chain management are not mere operational functions but strategic pillars that drive Kenya’s economic development, public sector efficiency, and the achievement of the national development goals.

He added that, its imperative to move beyond tokenism and embrace deliberate, strategic investment in women’s leadership within this critical sector.

"Women constitute over 50 percent of the procurement workforce, yet less than 20 percent hold executive or boardroom positions. This disparity is not only a social inequity but also an economic inefficiency that limits innovation, governance quality, and institutional resilience," he said.

He commended KISM for setting a significant pace in creating a dynamic platform that fosters knowledge exchange, mentorship, and advocacy, catalyzing a shift from participation to influence and from operational roles to boardroom leadership for women in procurement and supply chain management.

"Empowering women to ascend to leadership roles catalyzes systemic transformation. By embracing women’s leadership, we unlock diverse perspectives and collaborative approaches that enhance strategic decision-making and build resilient, adaptive supply chains, capable of navigating today’s complex global environment," PS Wagunda reiterated.

"The State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management is committed to entrenching gender-responsive procurement policies, that dismantle structural barriers, and foster equitable access for women-owned enterprises to high-value contracts. This requires not only robust policy frameworks, but also the nurturing of enabling ecosystems comprising mentorship, capacity building, financial inclusion, and strategic partnerships that empower women entrepreneurs to compete and thrive," the PS affirmed.

As the stewards of public resources and architects of economic transformation, the PS said there's need to recognize that, inclusive leadership is not a discretionary agenda but a strategic imperative adding that giving women the platform to lead, we gain stronger institutions, enhanced innovation, and a more inclusive, prosperous Kenya.