An empirical analysis of the obstacles derailing Procurement Process in Public Institutions in Kenya

Public procurement is broadly defined as the purchasing, hiring or obtaining by any other contractual means of goods, construction works and services by the public sector. Public procurement thus means procurement by a procuring entity using public funds (Sherman, 1999). The items involved in public procurement range from simple goods or services such as clips or cleaning services to large commercial projects, such as the development of infrastructure, including road, power stations and airports. Public procurement practitioners have always faced challenges imposed upon by a variety of factors including market, legal, political, organizational, socio-economic and other environmental factors. Market conditions have a great influence on public procurement practitioners’ effort to maximize competition. Moreover, the market determines whether or not socio-economic conditions of procurement are accomplished, whether or not a governmental entity can fulfill its needs, the timeliness of fulfillment and the quality and costs of purchased goods, services and capital assets. This paper will analyze the factors that derail procurement in public institution in Kenya and make recommendations on the way forward. Keywords: Procurement, Corruption, institutions, public entit