MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL DURING THE 7TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD AT BOMAS OF KENYA ON 26TH APRIL 2024.
Esteemed colleagues, my fellow Council Members, the KISEB Board of Directors, colleagues from our Parent Ministry, The National Treasury, our invaluable allies at the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, our esteemed partners, and most significantly, our students—the beacons of our profession’s future, Good Afternoon.
As I begin this address, let us honor the legacy of those who laid the foundation of our esteemed institution. Their tireless efforts and unwavering dedication have paved the way for our journey today. We now stand ready to soar to new heights, fuelled by their vision and determination.
Allow me therefore, with a grateful heart, and eyes on the horizon, welcome you to our seventh Annual General Meeting. This is a milestone that marks a significant chapter in our history as SCM professionals. This gathering is a testament to our shared commitment, our collective resilience, and the boundless potential that lies within us. As we unfold the pages of our Annual Report, we delve into a narrative that transcends the ordinary—an account of relentless pursuit, unwavering commitment, and visionary leadership. This report chronicles our journey through
the fiscal year 2023 and into the first quarter of 2024, highlighting our operational achievements, governance milestones, and the transformative initiatives that have propelled our Institute to the forefront of excellence in supply chain management.
This is not merely a report; it is a mosaic of our collective aspirations, challenges surmounted, and victories celebrated. It sheds light on the profound impact of our strategic pillars, our rigorous internal audit mechanisms, and the unparalleled dedication of our management team in navigating the complexities of our profession with grace and agility. Despite the hurdles, such as the delay in the clearance of our financial statements due to audit backlogs, we have managed to provide a glimpse into our financial resilience and strategic foresight through unaudited snippets of the 2023 financial report. These insights reaffirm our commitment to transparency, accountability, and excellence in stewardship. I am happy to report that we have had two years of clean unqualified audited accounts and we believe that this trajectory will continue into the future as we entrench the culture financial prudence.
Reflecting on the year gone by, we have not only achieved but exceeded our expectations, setting new benchmarks and crafting a legacy of innovation and leadership. The successful execution of our first electronic elections, marked by an historic voter turnout, and the convening of high-profile forums and dialogues with key national and international stakeholders, underscore our role as a catalyst for professional development and discourse within the global supply chain ecosystem.
This is also an opportune time to reflect on the key milestones that we have achieved so far in laying a solid foundation upon which we can now accelerate the journey of transforming KISM into a truly Pan-African Centre of Supply Chain Excellence. The details are included in this report but allow me to highlight a few of them: the
Launch of our 2020-204 Strategic Plan and Road Map anchored on the Vision: Empowered, Competent, and Ethical SCM Practitioners, completion and inauguration of KISM Towers as our Centre of SCM Excellence, Operationalization
of KISEB and the launch of our truly Glo-Cal Curriculum, which is a fusion of world-class best practice contextualized with our local operating environment, launch of our Disciplinary Policy & Procedures, accelerated growth in our CPD and in-house training programs, the Launch of our own Wanunuzi SACCO, the launch of our Mentorship & Coaching Program, the launch of the KISM College of SCM Management, the entrenchment of the Annual Heads of Procurement and National Dialogue in our Annual Calendar, the embedding of the Annual SPURS Gala Awards
Dinner where we meet annually to celebrate what our Members have achieved in their various spheres of influence, the automation of our Membership & Registration Portal, the launch of the Regional Chapters, among others.
One of the critical promises that we made to you, our Members, is the review of the SPMA 2007. This is one of the few legislations that was enacted before the 2010 Constitution and has never been brought into alignment with the said Constitution. We are happy to report that the new SCMP-Bill 2024, which will replace the SPMA-2007 is at advance stage in the National Assembly. Some of the key factors that we have considered in reviewing the SPMA-2007 include the need to ensure legal compliance and risk mitigation emerging from outdated policies, laws and regulations. Additionally, there’s also need to keep in tandem with the fast-paced industry and technological changes, ensure consistency with emerging global best practices, adapt to the increasingly complex organizational changes and meet vast array of diverse member needs and aspirations.
The establishment and strengthening of strategic partnerships have further amplified our impact, enabling us to foster a culture of continuous learning, professional excellence, and global collaboration. These alliances have not only enriched our professional landscape but have also opened new avenues for dialogue, innovation, and advancement that elevate professional standards and inspire individuals to strive for better performance. Some of these partnerships include the World Bank who have supported us since 2019 by making KISM the Regional Training Centre for all World Bank-funded projects. The World Bank has also funded the revamping of our ERP System, the establishment of live-streaming resource center where we can broadcast our programs from KISM Towers to the world and the revamping of our website to make it more interactive and user-friendly. We’ve also gained national recognition and our events and initiatives are gaining traction.
This is evidenced by the fact that for the very fast time in our history, we had the Deputy President, H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, gracing our 2023 National Dialogue. During the meeting, we put forward five key issues which we are following up with his office, namely: the Review Scheme of Service for Public Sector, both in the National County Governments; Ending the Victimization and Corruption stigmatization of SCM Practitioners; Supporting the development of Internal Self-Regulation mechanism and empowering the Disciplinary Committee to be the 1st port of call for all our members; the elevation of the office of Public Procurement Director into a fully Directorate with a Director General; Enforcement of recruitment of Procurement Professionals in Schools. These initiatives are already gaining traction. The recent head-of State Commendations for several of our Members underscores our growing influence and is an indelible testament that we are now firmly on the national table. We celebrate the following Members who were feted with the OGW National Honours: CM Jeremiah Kioo Nthusi, OGW, Dr. John Kibyegon Ng’eno, OGW, Dr. Harley Kisyula Mutisya, OGW and Chairman John Karani, who was awarded MBS Commendation.
As an institution, we have not been devoid of shortcomings. We have faced various operational inefficiencies from delayed processing of memberships, license renewals, and effective engagement with our members. We strongly believe that you members, are the heart and soul of our institution. In the spirit of strengthening our institutional capacity, I am especially very happy to report the recruitment of the Chief Executive Officer, who is thoroughbred Supply Chain Management professional. He will be very ably supported by a team of 5 high caliber Directors whom we have recruited very intentionally to fill various strategic Directorates at the Institute.
These include
1. Director Corporate Services
2. Director Standards and Compliance
3. Director Capacity Development and Accreditation
4. Deputy Director Strategy, Planning & Resource Mobilization
5. Deputy Director Marketing and Communication
The infusion of these new Directors is aimed at strengthening the existing team and thus accelerate the journey of transforming KISM into a truly Pan-African bastion of supply chain management excellence. Allow me to give flowers to the acting CEOs who have gallantly steered the KISM ship very steadily during their respective periods. On behalf of the Council, all members, and the staff, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Nicholas Wafula and Cs. Serah Okumu. We are ready for take-off because the long-term sustainability of the Institute is anchored on a strong institutional capacity in terms of human capability, the most critical resource in any Institution.
The most critical pillar of our profession is really anchored on you, our Members. In the spirit of gratitude, I would like extend my deepest appreciation to each one of you for your unwavering support, your invaluable contributions, and your relentless pursuit of excellence. Your engagement is the cornerstone of our success, and your voices, opinions, and insights are the driving force behind our continued evolution.You are the reason for the existence of KISM. Remember that Without you, we are not!“KISM Ni Mimi Na Wewe” However, we cannot rest on our laurels and glory in the successes of yesterday. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “After climbing a great hill, one finds that there are many more hills to climb”! We are truly on a journey and we are in a hurry!
As we curate the next chapter of our Institute, it is critical that we start telling our story as Procurement and Supply Chain Management professionals because we realise that if we don’t tell our story, no one else will. PSCMs are not very good at blowing our own trumpets…I think that is why other people trample upon us…and so we must really learn to tell our story and our successes in every sphere of influence. The saying goes that “When you don’t blow your trumpet, you will be trampled upon!” In light of this, I would like to announce the several initiatives that are underway which will be of benefit to our Members. These include the launch of the Membership Welfare and Advocacy Association, separate from the Regulatory function of the Institute, the full operationalization of the Regional Chapters the establishment of the Resource Mobilization function to lead the initiative of diversifying our revenue sources in light of the headwinds in our operating environment, the launch of the Recognition of Prior Learning Policy, the launch of the Fellowship Policy, the launch of the KISM Consultancy Hub, Partnership with the Commission for University Education (which will create opportunities for several of our Members), the ongoing development the Standards for SCM Professional Practice with funding support from PFMR, partnership with CARRISCA to strengthen our Research and Consultancy Hub among others. Most importantly, with the resourcing of the PR and Communications function, we will harness the power of media and communication by illuminating the transformative role of PSCM in driving organizational and national success.
Through compelling narratives, data-driven insights, and strategic messaging, we’ll showcase SCM’s pivotal contributions to efficiency, innovation, and sustainability. By engaging external stakeholders through various channels such as social media, press releases, and targeted campaigns, we’ll amplify our voice, foster understanding, and inspire collaboration. Together, let’s elevate the SCM story, positioning it as a catalyst for positive change and driving collective progress toward a brighter future. No one calls our story better than we can!
We also currently in the process of revamping our CPD Policy based on aligning with emerging trends and best practices, benchmarking with other professional bodies, and incorporating feedback from our Members. I would also like to announce that by January 2025, CPSP-K will be the only pathway for all new applicants seeking KISM Membership. This is in recognition of the fact that our KISEB Certification has now come of age since 2020 when we launched. We now have over 7,700 students spread across 7 countries in the region. We are truly the regional benchmark with countries like South Africa, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Uganda, Somalia, South Sudan and even Angola coming to learn from us.
As we gaze into the future, let us rededicate ourselves to our shared vision of establishing KISM as a Pan-African bastion of supply chain management excellence. Your feedback, your perspectives, and your aspirations are crucial to this journey. I urge you to remain united, engaged, and proactive, as we collectively strive to elevate our profession, our Institute, and our beloved country, Kenya, to new heights of glory and achievement.
As we stand together united, fuelled by our shared vision and unwavering determination, let us march forward, hand in hand, with renewed focus and faith in our mission. Let our actions speak volumes, for it is through our solidarity and relentless pursuit of excellence that we will conquer any obstacle and achieve greatness beyond measure. Together, we are poised to redefine the landscape of supply chain management, to inspire generations to come, and to make an indelible mark on the socio-economic fabric of our nation and beyond.
I conclude with the apt words of the Holy Book which state thus: “Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are
serving” (Col. 3:23-24). God often gives a once a lifetime opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. This is a privilege that we as a Council do not take for granted. We will work hard to endeavour that we bequeath the next generation of professionals a legacy that they can proud of.
Thank you, esteemed members, for your trust, your partnership, and your enduring commitment to this exhilarating journey. Together, let us forge ahead, united in purpose and passion, as we continue to shape the future of supply chain management, for the betterment of our society and the world at large.
God bless KISM, God bless our members, our Institute, and our Beloved Country,Kenya.
With deepest appreciation and renewed zeal,
John Karani, MBS, MKISM, MCIPS
Chairman