THE HISTORY OF KISM
The Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM) is a professional association registered under the Societies Act in 1976. It brings together all those engaged in activities that involve procurement and supply chain management functions. The Institute’s overriding task is to nurture and build the supply chain management profession, all the while instilling discipline, ethics and order in the practice of this function within the private and public sectors in Kenya.
One morning on August 27th 1975, a quiet meeting was held in the Conference Room at the Treasury Building. In attendance were four key visionaries: Mr. P.G. Wangoo, then Head of Supplies Services, F.W. Muchibi, C.O Gekonge, and Mary Kibuka Musoke.
Their single agenda was to get the supplies profession organized. On 26th march, 1976, application for registration of the Institute was done and on 24th May, 1976 KISM was registered under the Societies Act CAP 108 of the laws of Kenya.
On 3rd August 1976 the first board meeting was held with the following newly registered first officials in attendance:
- Chairman, Mr. Paul Wangoo;
- Vice Chairman, Mr. Martin Mwilu;
- Secretary, Mr. Joseph K.N. Nyette;
- Assistant Secretary, Mr. Samuel Lipesa;
- Treasurer, Mr. John Roberts; and
- Assistant Treasurer, Mr. Simon Omondi
The Institute continued to operate throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, with regular election of officials, but one perennial problem seems to have been dogging the organization. It is clear that the registered offices were at one of the officials residence, meaning that KISM operated all these years without an office where it could offer administrative support to its members.
The officials elected in 1983 led by Mr. Wangoo as chairman and Mr. S.J. Mativo as Secretary, continued in office until 1995, with the registered offices changing to Mr. Mativo’s residence in Parklands, Nairobi. By 1997 however Mr. Chris Oanda and Jotham Katamo took the helm.
After a prolonged period of little activity and progress, by 1999 after a request, the Attorney General clarified that KISM was a legal entity that had been complying with all requirements of the Societies Act. In August 25th 1999, KISM requested the then PS Treasury Mr. Martin Oduor Otieno to re-launch it. But around this time, another organization by the name KIPSM came up and requested to be identified as a bona fide representative of supplies professionals in Kenya. This request was turned down with the understanding that KIPSM was a private entity but KISM represented both the public and private sector players. In a re-launch function held on 21st October 1999, the PS affirmed the fact that there was need to strengthen KISM.
During the initial stages dating back to the 1980s, positive developments were going on. The International Federation of Purchasing and Materials Management sought to work with KISM on 3rd April, 1980 and the latter became a member of ISPMM that year. Other institutions that requested cooperation with KISM were: International Society for Inventory Research (23rd July, 1983), Nigeria Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management (4th July, 1986), Director of Supply Department Botswana (22nd April, 1987), and Kenya Institute of Management (12th February,1990).
On 22nd June, 1982 KISM participated in a 5th World Bank Education Project Pre-Investment Study to identify the national training needs in the business field. This study triggered a series of events. Around October 15th 1982, the Ministry of Higher Education directed five institutions (KIM, KISM, KIA) to commence certificate and diploma courses in business management. On July 28 1983, the Registrar of the National Board of Materials Management, wrote a letter to KISM seeking cooperation in examining both certificate and diploma courses , and on May 12th 1987, KISM sought leave from the Ministry of Education to offer exams through cooperation with KNEC. 2nd February, 1990 saw KIM and KISM getting into an agreement to jointly offer evening and weekend courses preparing students for the Institute of Purchasing and Supply (UK) examinations.
The turning milestone came on 6th June 2000 when a nine member special task force led by Chris Oanda was appointed by the Ministry of Finance. It presented a draft Supplies Management Practitioners Bill to the PS Ministry of Finance. This Bill forms the basis of reengineering the procurement profession in Kenya but is currently pending and awaiting tabling in parliament.
kism.or.ke