The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) Global CEO Ben Farrell is conducting a comprehensive week-long visit to Kenya reinforcing the organization’s commitment to advancing procurement and supply chain excellence across East Africa.
The high-level diplomatic and business mission, running from August 8-15, 2025, has seen Farrell engage with key stakeholders across government, academia, and industry to strengthen CIPS’ strategic positioning in the region’s rapidly evolving supply chain landscape. Several key engagements remain pending confirmation as the visit continues.
The visit has commenced with crucial meetings with Kenya’s senior government officials, including successful courtesy visits to the Vice Chancellor of KCA University and confirmed engagements with academic institutions for the establishment of a study centre at the institution
The visit has featured significant academic outreach, with Farrell set to deliver keynote addresses at prestigious institutions including KCA University and Daystar University.
“The visit is a phenomenal step towards the establishment of a CIPS Kenyan office with the key government engagements we wish to underscore CIPS’ commitment to working closely with regulatory bodies to enhance procurement standards and governance across the region,” said Ben
A major highlight of the visit will be the main CIPS event titled “The future of supply chain & CIPS strategic positioning,” scheduled for the Radisson Blu Hotel in Nairobi’s Upper Hill district. The forum is expected to bring together Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs) and industry leaders for high-level discussions on supply chain transformation and professional development.
Farrell is also set to participate in a specialized CPO Forum at Glee Hotel, featuring roundtable discussions that will include dinner networking sessions, fostering deeper industry relationships. These events represent key opportunities to strengthen CIPS’ industry partnerships in the region.
The visit is scheduled to conclude with Farrell delivering a keynote address at Sarova White Sands Hotel during this years KISM annual conference in Mombasa, extending CIPS’ reach to Kenya’s coastal region and demonstrating the organization’s commitment to nationwide engagement.
The comprehensive itinerary, which includes everything from sunrise game drives in Nairobi National Park to high-level government meetings, reflects CIPS’ holistic approach to stakeholder engagement and its commitment to understanding local contexts while advancing global procurement standards.
“This ongoing visit represents a pivotal moment in CIPS’ East African strategy,” noted a Joshua Gitoho, CIPS kenya President
“The level of engagement across government, academia, and industry demonstrates the region’s growing importance in global supply chain networks.
The visit is expected to yield concrete outcomes in terms of enhanced training programs, stronger regulatory partnerships, and expanded professional certification opportunities across Kenya”, said Gitoho
CIPS continues to be the world’s largest procurement and supply professional organization, with members in over 150 countries working to elevate procurement standards and drive supply chain excellence globally.
KBC Digital
