Last reviewed October 2026
- Issued by
- The National Treasury, through the AGPO portal
- Valid for
- A fixed period, commonly around two years; check the current validity on the portal
- Who needs it
- Firms owned and run by youth, women or persons with disabilities that want to bid for reserved tenders
- Where to apply
- agpo.go.ke
- Cost
- Registration has been free of charge; confirm on the portal
What it is
Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) is the programme under which at least 30% of public procurement is reserved for enterprises owned by youth, women and persons with disabilities. The AGPO certificate is the National Treasury's confirmation that a firm belongs to one of those groups, and it is what a procuring entity checks when a tender is reserved.
The certificate names the category, so a youth certificate does not open a women-reserved tender, nor the other way round.
Who qualifies
Broadly, a business registered in Kenya in which members of the target group hold at least 70% of the ownership and the leadership. Youth means the age range the programme defines; women and persons with disabilities are proved by national ID and, for disability, by the registration evidence the programme asks for. The rules are applied strictly and change from time to time, so check the current criteria on agpo.go.ke before you apply.
Documents you need
- Certificate of incorporation or business name registration
- A current CR12 for a company, showing the shareholding that proves the 70% test
- National IDs of the owners and directors
- The firm's KRA PIN certificate and a valid tax compliance certificate
- For persons with disabilities, the disability registration the portal asks for
- A business permit or any other document the portal lists at the time
How to apply, step by step
- Create an account on agpo.go.ke with the firm's details.
- Choose the category: youth, women or persons with disabilities.
- Enter the owners and directors exactly as they appear on the CR12 and their IDs.
- Upload the documents and submit.
- The application is reviewed and, if approved, the certificate is issued through the portal. Download it and check the category and expiry date.
Validity and renewal
The certificate carries an expiry date and must be renewed before it lapses; a lapsed certificate fails a reserved tender at preliminary evaluation. Renewal is made on the same portal with current documents, including a fresh CR12 and a valid TCC. If ownership changes so that the 70% test is no longer met, the certificate should not be used.
Why bids get thrown out over it
- The certificate had expired, or expired before the tender's validity period ended.
- The category on the certificate was not the category the tender was reserved for.
- The CR12 attached showed a shareholding that did not support the category claimed.
- The firm bid for a reserved tender without a certificate at all, relying on the owners' IDs.
How Tendakazi helps
Open tenders on Tendakazi show which group each is reserved for, and your alerts can be limited to tenders your certificate opens. The vault tracks the certificate's expiry with reminders at 60, 30 and 7 days, and our analysts check the category and the CR12 against each reserved tender. Registration and renewal can be ordered as a quoted service, with the CR12 and TCC handled at the same time.
Questions
What share of public procurement is reserved under AGPO?
At least 30%, under the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act and its regulations. Each procuring entity decides which of its tenders are reserved.
How long is an AGPO certificate valid?
A fixed period, commonly about two years. The expiry date is printed on the certificate; check the current validity on agpo.go.ke.
Can a firm with an AGPO certificate bid for open tenders too?
Yes. The certificate adds reserved tenders; it does not take away open ones.
Does AGPO exempt a firm from bid security?
Some tenders exempt AGPO bidders from bid security or accept a tender securing declaration. Read each tender; it is not automatic.
What if ownership is split between a woman and a man?
The target group must hold at least 70% of the ownership and lead the firm. A 50-50 split does not qualify.
We prepare and file the AGPO application, with the CR12 and TCC it needs, as a quoted service, and the certificate goes into your vault.
Read next
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.