The Kenya Institute of Supplies Examination Board (KISEB) has announced changes to procurement and supply chain management courses, with the first examinations under the revised curriculum scheduled for April 2027.
The changes will affect students pursuing the Certified Procurement and Supply Professional of Kenya (CPSP-K) qualification and the Diploma in Supply Chain Management, also known as APS-K.
In a notice issued on Tuesday, October 20, KISEB said it would hold online sensitisation sessions to explain the changes and guide students who are already taking the courses on how to transition to the new curriculum.
CPSP-K students will have their session on Thursday, October 22, while diploma candidates will meet online on Friday, October 23. Both sessions will run from 2pm to 4pm.
“The first examinations under the revised curricula are scheduled for April 2027,” the board said, adding that the sessions would cover curriculum changes, transition arrangements and assessment requirements.
The CPSP-K qualification is offered at Level 7 of the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF), while the diploma is at Level 6.
What the New Procurement Curriculum Covers
Under the proposed changes, the CPSP-K programme will be divided into three stages: Supply Chain Practitioner, Supply Chain Manager and Supply Chain Transformer. Each stage will have six units, bringing the total to 18.
The first stage will cover procurement, strategic sourcing, contract management, logistics, inventory management, distribution, supply chain finance and entrepreneurship.
At the managerial level, students will study digital supply chains and analytics, public procurement regulations, management accounting, operations planning, project management and global supply chains.
The final stage will focus on sustainable and ethical supply chain management, risk management, business continuity, strategic leadership, governance, public-private partnerships, research and innovation.
The revised programme will also include industry-based learning or a capstone project. Students with less than three years of relevant work experience will be required to undertake industry-based learning.
The changes are intended to give procurement professionals practical skills and prepare them for developments in technology, sustainability, international trade and supply chain risk management.
Changes Come Amid Concerns Over Professional Standards
The curriculum changes come against the backdrop of concerns about qualifications and licensing in the procurement sector.
A 2025 study by the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM) found that 40 per cent of supply chain practitioners, particularly those working in county governments, lacked the required qualifications.
The study also found that 15 per cent of practitioners in 109 institutions were operating unlawfully.
KISM further reported that 116 practitioners did not have valid licences, while 93 faced preliminary evidence of professional misconduct.
The revised curriculum is expected to shape the training of future procurement and supply chain professionals as the sector continues to address concerns over skills, qualifications and professional standards.
