How to Get an AGPO Certificate in Kenya (2026): Eligibility, Documents & Steps
AGPO reserves 30% of government tenders for youth, women and persons with disabilities — and the certificate is free. Who qualifies, the exact documents you need, and how to apply on the AGPO portal in 2026.
By law, 30% of every shilling the government spends on procurement is reserved for businesses owned by youth, women, and persons with disabilities. The AGPO certificate — Access to Government Procurement Opportunities — is how you unlock it. And it is free. Here is exactly how to get one.
Do you qualify?
Your enterprise must be at least 70% owned and led by people in one of these categories:
- Youth — Kenyan citizens aged 18 to 35
- Women — of any age
- Persons with disabilities — registered with the NCPWD
If you qualify under more than one — say a woman under 35 — you can register under both, and bid for a wider pool of reserved tenders.
What you’ll need
- A registered business — a business name or a limited company
- Your KRA PIN and a valid Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC)
- National IDs of the owner(s)/directors, and passport photos
- For a limited company: a CR12 from the Business Registration Service showing directors and shareholders
- For the PWD category: your NCPWD registration
Step by step
- Get your prerequisites ready: registered business, KRA PIN, and a valid TCC.
- Go to agpo.go.ke and log in — the portal uses your eCitizen credentials.
- Start a new application and select your category (youth, women, or PWD — or more than one).
- Fill in your enterprise, owner and bank details.
- Upload your certificate of registration, CR12 (companies), IDs, TCC, and NCPWD registration if applicable.
- Submit — it is free — and once approved, download your AGPO certificate. It is valid for 2 years.
At a glance
- Cost: free (you pay only for the prerequisite business registration and TCC).
- Reserved for you: 30% of government procurement value.
- Validity: 2 years, then renew if you still qualify.
Certificate in hand — now win and deliver
The certificate lets you bid. These free tools help you look professional to a procuring entity and get paid once you win:
Bid
Quotation Generator →
Clean, itemised quotations for tender responses and RFQs — free.
Confirm the order
Proforma Invoice →
Issue a proforma invoice before delivery — the document procuring entities often ask for.
Get paid
Invoice Generator →
Invoice the government under your registered name once you deliver — free, no sign-up.
Stay compliant
Keep your TCC valid →
Your TCC needs all KRA returns up to date. Here's how to file — including nil returns — free.
Frequently asked
Is the AGPO certificate really free?
Yes — the AGPO application is free. You only pay for the prerequisites: registering a business (about KES 950 on eCitizen) and getting a KRA Tax Compliance Certificate, which is itself free. Anyone charging you thousands is charging for convenience.
Who counts as 'youth'?
For AGPO, youth means Kenyan citizens aged 18 to 35. Women qualify at any age. Persons with disabilities must be registered with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).
Do I need a limited company, or is a sole proprietorship enough?
A registered business name (sole proprietorship or partnership) is enough — you do not need a limited company. What matters is that the enterprise is at least 70% owned and led by people in the eligible category.
How long is the certificate valid?
2 years. After that you apply for renewal, provided you still meet the requirements.
Do I really need a Tax Compliance Certificate?
Yes — a valid TCC from KRA is required. To get one, all your KRA returns must be up to date, so file any outstanding returns (even nil returns) first.
Can I qualify under more than one category?
Yes. If, for example, you are a woman under 35, you can register under both youth and women, which widens the pool of reserved tenders you can bid for.
What exactly does AGPO unlock?
By law, 30% of the value of government procurement is reserved for enterprises owned by youth, women and PWDs. With an AGPO certificate you can bid for those reserved tenders across ministries, counties and state agencies.
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