APSCHA 2026:Dr. John Ngeno calls advanced supply chains for economic growth

Dr. John Ngeno, General Manager, Supply Chain & Logistics at Kenya Power, has called on procurement and supply chain leaders across Africa to reposition supply chains as strategic drivers of economic transformation, sustainability, and regional integration rather than traditional operational support functions.

Delivering the keynote address at the 8th Africa Procurement and Supply Chain Summit and Awards (APSCHA 2026) in Lagos, Ngeno said the future of Africa's economy will depend on how effectively procurement, logistics, and transportation systems create value beyond transactions.

Speaking under the theme, "Unlocking Value Across Africa's Supply Ecosystem: Procurement, Logistics and Transportation in Action," he urged industry leaders to adopt supply chain models that generate jobs, strengthen communities, and accelerate sustainable development.

"Unlocking value means moving supply chains away from being simple transactional back-office functions. It means using procurement as a tool to uplift our communities," Ngeno said.

Highlighting Kenya Power's approach, Ngeno said the utility has transformed its supply chain strategy into a catalyst for economic inclusion, regional connectivity, and clean energy adoption. Rather than viewing procurement as merely acquiring operational materials, he said the organisation has embedded supply chain management into its broader development agenda.

"At Kenya Power, we do not view supply chain management as just buying cables, poles and meters. We view it as a catalyst for economic growth, inclusion and regional integration," he stated.

Ngeno pointed to Kenya Power's growing investment in electric mobility as evidence of how strategic supply chains can transform entire industries.

Between July 2023 and April 2026, the company generated KSh382 million in revenue from the e-mobility sector, while monthly revenues reached a record KSh35.25 million by February 2026.

He added that the company has onboarded more than 205 charging station operators and fleet owners under its dedicated e-mobility electricity tariff and projects sector revenues to reach KSh5.9 billion by 2030.

"Every electric bus, taxi or delivery bike on the road represents a shift in logistics efficiency. When energy suppliers collaborate with logistics networks, we unlock economic value, lower operational costs for transporters, and clean up our environment," Ngeno said.

The Kenya Power executive also underscored the importance of regional collaboration, citing the recently signed electricity supply agreement between Kenya and Ethiopia as a model for strengthening cross-border trade and supporting industrial growth across East Africa. According to him, integrated regional energy systems will improve power reliability, strengthen logistics corridors, and enhance economic competitiveness throughout the continent.

"No single nation can thrive in isolation. By building regional energy highways, we ensure that power moves seamlessly to where it is needed most, enabling industries to run, logistics hubs to operate reliably, and cross-border transport corridors to flourish," he said.

Ngeno further stressed that digital transformation remains essential to modern supply chain management. He revealed that Kenya Power has acquired more than 19,000 smart meters for commercial and industrial customers to improve operational efficiency, reduce revenue losses, and support future infrastructure investments through data-driven decision-making.

Beyond technology, he urged procurement leaders to embrace inclusive procurement by creating greater opportunities for youth, women, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

He noted that Kenya Power has intensified community engagement under its Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) initiative, enabling underrepresented entrepreneurs to participate more actively in public procurement while identifying practical solutions to barriers facing PWD-owned businesses.

"A supply chain is only as strong and sustainable as the community it serves. Unlocking value means ensuring that local businesses, youth, women and Persons with Disabilities have a seat at the table," Ngeno said.

Concluding his keynote, Ngeno challenged delegates to build procurement and logistics systems that are efficient, technologically advanced, environmentally sustainable, and inclusive, arguing that these principles will be fundamental to unlocking Africa's economic potential.

"Let us build supply systems that are not only efficient and technologically advanced, but also clean, integrated, and deeply inclusive," he urged."