Green Procurement and Responsiveness of Large-Scale Manufacturing Firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya

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Published Jul 1, 2025
https://doi.org/10.71064/spu.amjr.10.1.2025.402
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Vol. 10 No. 1 (2025): African Multidisciplinary Journal of Research

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John Kiruma Kagondu
St. Paul's University
Mary Karei Kibuine
St. Paul's University
Rosina Mutisya
St. Paul's University

Abstract

Over the past decade, the manufacturing sector has undergone rapid growth, contributing
significantly to environmental degradation through increased effluent emissions. These
developments have heightened concerns about public health and environmental sustainability.
Despite the recognized importance of sustainability, initiatives such as green procurement
remain underutilized in mainstream supply chain management. This study investigates the
impact of green procurement on the responsiveness of large-scale manufacturing firms in
Nairobi City County, Kenya, with a focus on the chemical and metal manufacturing sectors.
The study specifically aimed to assess the effects of supplier assessment, reverse logistics, lean
supply chains, and electronic procurement on firm responsiveness. Grounded in the
Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) theory and the Resource-Based Theory (RBT), the
research employed a descriptive design to explore green procurement practices among
registered manufacturing firms in Nairobi. The study population consisted of 490 procurement
staff, from which a sample of 220 respondents was selected using proportionate stratified
random sampling, guided by Yamane’s formula. Data was gathered through structured
questionnaires, then cleaned, coded, and analysed using both descriptive and inferential
statistical techniques. The results revealed that firms prioritize sustainable procurement by
selecting suppliers that provide environmentally friendly and reusable products, thereby
reducing waste and pollution. Additionally, findings showed that reverse logistics and lean
supply chain practices positively influence responsiveness, while electronic procurement
presented integration challenges that limited its effectiveness. The study concludes that
sustainable procurement practices are essential for enhancing firm responsiveness and
environmental responsibility. It recommends that manufacturing firms strengthen supplier
assessment processes, expand waste management and recycling efforts, and adopt lean
manufacturing principles. Furthermore, the National Environment Management Authority
(NEMA) is encouraged to support digitalization of procurement systems, establish monitoring
frameworks for environmental impact, and incentivize firms to adopt green technologies in
their e-procurement strategies.

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How to Cite
Kagondu, J. K., Kibuine , M. K. ., & Mutisya, R. (2025). Green Procurement and Responsiveness of Large-Scale Manufacturing Firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya. African Multidisciplinary Journal of Research, 10(1), 104–130. https://doi.org/10.71064/spu.amjr.10.1.2025.402

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