Abstract:
This paper presents the concepts of beneficence, responsibility and accountability in procurement
management through an examination of ethical theories and their application to managerial challenges
which typically confront procurement managers, their employees and suppliers in Kenya and in other
countries. The main research drivers were focused on the ethical tendering, accountability, transparency and
fairness in awards. The literature review employed various theories such as: Virtue Theory, Utilitarian
Theory, and Kantian Theory. Of course, these approaches are considered in relation to the procurement
management implications.
Purpose: The main purpose of the paper was to investigate the role of ethical consideration in Kenyan
procurement management approaches.
Methodology and Research design: The paper employed a case research design. A survey of the selected
study population from Central and Nairobi Provinces of Kenya was carried out by the use of questionnaires
through focus group discussions. The sample size of this research was estimated at 150 participants.
Findings: The findings suggest that the current procurement management is deficient of ethical inclination
and should therefore employ ethical consideration to re-invent itself.
Conclusion: This study is focused on the responsible purchasing and supply chain management in Kenya,
with a critical analysis of the ethical considerations in procurement management.Taken as a whole, our
findings suggest that, there are some impediments associated with the current procurement management
and thus ethical consideration could help re-engineer the whole system.
