The Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM) has commenced a nationwide registration drive and membership data audit aimed at eliminating unlicensed and unqualified individuals from the profession.
Speaking in Kisumu County, KISM Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Matiba highlighted that many supply and procurement workers across the country are not registered. Currently, the KISM database has about 10,000 registered members, while the country has over 23,000 practitioners.
“This drive aims not only to register new members but also to clean the existing register to ensure only qualified personnel handle supplies and procurement,” Matiba stated. He emphasized the importance of this initiative in enhancing professionalism and ensuring compliance with the law, which mandates all practitioners to be registered and licensed by KISM.
KISM has embraced the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to certify and register practitioners who lack formal academic qualifications but have significant experience. “We are the first professional body in Kenya to embrace RPL because many experienced individuals are practicing without formal qualifications,” Matiba noted.
To address non-compliance and professional misconduct, KISM is building capacity for its disciplinary committee. In partnership with the Judiciary, KISM aims to establish a quasi-judicial committee to handle all professional misconduct matters.
KISM Council Member Moses Omondi reiterated that registration is a statutory requirement and announced regional registration drives to ensure all practitioners are compliant. He encouraged all practitioners to take advantage of this initiative to get registered. Legal instruments have been put in place to enhance compliance and remove unprofessional members from the register.
KISM, established under the Supplies Practitioners Management Act No.17 of 2007, is responsible for the registration, licensing, and regulation of supplies practitioners in Kenya.
