STRIVING TO BE THE VOICE OF CHANGE IN THE PROCUREMENT INDUSTRY
Meet Kipronoh Bernard Ngenoh – A Procurement Indirects Support working to change the landscape of the Procurement Industry
“The world has evolved. With great technological advancements, value creation, strategic sourcing, categorization of spending and procurement being at the epicenter of organization's goals and objectives, I decided to pursue the career and strike a positive mark. With the public perception pitting procurement on several critical integrity issues and with corruption and embezzlement of funds at its core, it served right for me to join the industry and be part of the change. Dedan Kimathi University of Technology provided an enabling environment to pursue my dream.”- Kipronoh Bernard Ngenoh
From the onset, since graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Purchasing and Supplies Management in 2015, Kipronoh has been working in the procurement sector and vows to stay and do his part in the change required within the sector. Kiproroh started as a Management Trainee - Procurement in Uchumi and later worked for Unilever East Africa in the Inbound Logistics, Supply Chain department. He is currently working at Upfield as Procurement Indirects Support for East Africa; Upfield is a leading producer of plant-based spreads globally with a presence in more than 100 countries. As the Procurement Indirects Support, Kipronoh’s duties entail acquisition of goods and services that are enablers in the production process as well as outbound services. He adds that his interest is in the manufacturing firms and he is working hard to have a full understanding of all processes right from inbound to outbound. To enlighten us, he explains that in procurement, inbound is the specific state where the sourced materials get into the manufacturing process while outbound is the outlet where the finished goods leave for the market.
More about Upfield https://upfield.com/
In his few years working in the procurement industry, Kipronoh has been keen on and has contributed to improved supplier - clients relationships, improved projects evaluation, better accountability, better control over project deliverables, improved savings, improved inter-departmental relationships, improved timing in the processes, strategic procurement, cost-cutting and right sourcing. He counts these as his milestones and achievements adding that the opportunities and positive challenges in the procurement and supply chain industry are the motivators pushing him to be part of a beautiful story. “My inspiration comes from a future where integrity will be the core engine in the procurement world. Where strategic value, quality, savings, enhanced supplier - clients relationship, zero conflict of interest, seamless procurement activities are achieved and felt. That is the beautiful story”- he says in emphasis.
Kipronoh is not only interested in the hands-on day to day processes in the procurement industry. He is stretching his arms further to see how he can make the procurement world better and also, create opportunities for others. He is therefore working on the social justice, and in changing the landscape and perception of procurement career in the public image. Further he runs a group in Facebook called THE PROCUREMENT WORLD where he has brought people from the procurement industry together to network, share procurement knowledge and tips to navigate the industry and hopefully, create opportunities for the graduates in the field or open their eyes to the existing opportunities.
Having spent most part of 4 years of his life at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kipronoh says that the University was like his second home. He fondly looks back to the growth the institution achieved as he progressed with his studies through the years and his fondest final memory is being part of the pioneer group that implemented an idea that saw the largest group ever to climb Mt. Kenya; an initiative that the University adopted as an annual activity dubbed “Climb to Educate.” Kipronoh gives credit to the University for his seamless transition to the job market saying that the skills and holistic discipline imparted on him were of great help in terms of exhibiting the requirements of the market.
While every parents joy is to see their children grow and become all that they dream of them to be, our joy as an institution is, as our mission states, to indeed produce human resources who are leaders in various fields and industries and who contribute to development and the change we need in our country, our continent and the world at large. We are proud of you Kipronoh and we wish you the very best as you strive to be the change you wish to see in your world.
“Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT) is a global institution now. For anyone out there who needs a cool and tranquil environment to pursue a career, then DeKUT is the place to be” – Kipronoh, Graduating Class of 2015.
