Supplies
The Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM) has urged supply chain management practitioners to provide licenses according to the Supplies Practitioners Management Act 2007 in order to promote professionalism in Supply Chain Management.
Speaking during a press briefing, Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM), Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kenneth Matiba applauded the leadership of the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) and the Kenya National Library Service (KNLBS) for their cooperation during the compliance checks and for immediately facilitating subscription for their practitioners.
Matiba noted that in the last two weeks, the Institute has conducted compliance checks in 5 public institutions in which 12 officers from the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), 4 officers from the Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya, and one officer from the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) were found to be practicing at the institutions without the requisite license and registration.
Further, he urged all the Supply Chain Management Practitioners to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Supplies Practitioners Management Act, 2007 relating to membership and licensing requirements, to remain in good standing.
“Section 329(1) states that any employer who employs an unregistered or unlicensed person as a supply Chain Management Practitioner shall be guilty of an offence and is liable upon conviction, to a fine of Sh5million or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or both, while the employer, a body corporate or CEO shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to the penalties provided in subsection (1),” cautioned Matiba.
The CEO assured that the Institute will continue to undertake the compliance checks all over the country in the execution of its mandate to enforce compliance by all practitioners and in furtherance of the discharge of its disciplinary mandate and fiduciary duty to the public.
Additionally, he disclosed that KISM has completed disciplinary proceedings for 45 cases relating to professional misconduct that were pending before its disciplinary Committee.
“The Institute executes its disciplinary mandate through the Disciplinary Committee, established by the Supplies Practitioners Management Act 2007 (SPMA) and the procedures and guidelines for conducting disciplinary proceedings under the Supplies Practitioners Management Discipline Regulations 2015,” added Matiba.
He reiterated the Committee’s mandate to receive and investigate compliance against supplies practitioners for infractions prohibited by the Act and in the executions of its mandate, the institute has completed investigations, undertaken disciplinary proceedings and rendered judgement for 45 cases.
The CEO noted that this revelation follows a complaint filed in July 2022 where further investigations showed that 44 supply chain practitioners in Homa bay County and one former employee in Vihiga County were practicing without licenses in 2023, which violates the Supplies Practitioners Management Act.
“Out of the 44 supply chain practitioners, 2 persons were fined, 32 were severely reprimanded and for the remaining 11, judgement will be read on the 27th September, 2024,” he announced.
Matiba pointed out that the Institute shall make public the judgements arising from the disciplinary proceedings in order to send a message that KISM will act against those who fail to comply with the requirement to acquire licenses to practice as supply chain practitioners and any infractions under the SPMA.
The CEO mentioned that as the Institute continues to conduct compliance audits, investigate professional misconduct and discipline practitioners, KISM requests employers and the public to remain vigilant to ensure that only practitioners in good standing are practicing as supply chain management officers.
“Any citizen can request an investigation of supply chain practitioners by contacting the institute via the website, www.kism.or.ke or contact +254111024826, +254111024800,” he directed.
KISM is a statutory body whose mandate is to train, register, license, discipline and regulate supply chain management practitioners in Kenya as well as monitor, improve, and push the standards of the supplies practitioners’ profession and enforce compliance.