Last reviewed October 2026
When it makes sense
A joint venture (JV) lets firms combine experience, equipment, staff and financial capacity to meet requirements none of them meets alone, such as a contract size, a specialist skill or turnover. It also shares the risk and the work.
Check first that the tender allows JVs, and how it evaluates them. Some tenders combine the partners' experience and turnover; others require the lead partner to meet a minimum on its own.
What tenders usually ask for
- A signed JV agreement or a letter of intent to form one
- A lead partner, authorised to act for the JV
- A power of attorney for the person signing the bid
- The statutory documents of each partner: registration, CR12, KRA PIN and TCC, and any licences the work needs
- A statement that the partners are jointly and severally liable for the contract
Agree these before you bid
A JV agreement is a legal document with real consequences for each firm. Have an advocate draft or review it.
- Who does which part of the work, and who supplies which staff and equipment
- How costs of bidding, bonds and financing are shared
- How payments flow and how profit or loss is split
- Who decides what, and how disputes are settled
- What happens if one partner cannot continue
AGPO and joint ventures
Whether a JV can bid for a tender reserved for AGPO groups, and on what conditions, depends on the rules and on the tender. Check the current rules and the tender document before you rely on a partner's certificate.
On Tendakazi you can invite a partner firm to a bid: each partner sees only that bid and the documents you share, and uploads what you ask of them.
General information for suppliers, not legal, tax or financial advice. Procurement law, regulations, thresholds and government systems change: check the current rules with the procuring entity, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), the National Treasury or KRA, and speak to an advocate or tax adviser about your own case.