Paul Mukonza

Senior Supply Chain and Procurement Leader with 15+ years of experience driving strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier management, inventory, logistics and operational excellence across hospitality, facilities management and luxury safari operations in East Africa. Proven expertise in optimizing procurement strategies, strengthening supplier ecosystems, improving inventory controls and leading complex multi-site supply chain operations. Delivered KES 97M+ in procurement savings through strategic sourcing, supplier consolidation, commercial negotiations and supply chain redesign.

Brings a transformation-led approach to procurement, focused on unlocking cost efficiencies, strengthening governance, reducing operational waste, improving supplier performance and building resilient supply networks. Combines commercial acumen with hands-on expertise in international sourcing, imports and exports, customs compliance, ERP-enabled supply chain management and cross-functional leadership.

Supply Chain & Operations Manager at Tsebo Facilities Solutions Kenya (2023-09 – Present)

Utilized Sage 300 ERP to drive multi-site supply chain visibility, demand forecasting, and inventory management across 150 client locations, managing a KES 850M annual operational spend.

• Achieved a 93% performance score against cost reduction, vendor management, risk mitigation, and inventory control KPIs by coordinating procurement, logistics, stores, facilities, and staff management functions daily.
• Cut cereal procurement costs by 45% by shifting from packaged goods to bulk purchasing, reducing overall food and beverage spend significantly across all 150 client sites.
• Reduced vegetable costs by 35% by introducing a farm-to-fork sourcing model that shortened the supply chain, eliminating intermediary markups on every client catering contract.
• Lowered fresh milk costs by KES 30 per litre by negotiating direct bulk supply agreements with regional dairy producers, entirely bypassing packaged distributor middlemen and markups.
• Secured long-term client retention and contract renewals with Microsoft, IBM Research Centre, Crawford, and Makini International School through consistently reliable, audit-ready operational service delivery.
• Led successful supply chain audits for Microsoft, Mars Wrigley, and Rockefeller by enforcing strict compliance standards across procurement, stores, facilities, and staff management operations.

Procurement Manager at Game Watchers Safaris & Porini Camps (2021-11 – 2023-09)

Directed group procurement, logistics, and inventory management across 10 Porini camps using Sage 300 ERP, coordinating a KES 1.5 billion annual budget and 60 vendor relationships.

• Reduced delivery lead times to 10 remote camps by introducing monthly delivery schedules with consolidated orders, minimizing route disruption caused by unpredictable seasonal weather patterns.
• Consolidated vendor contracts for cereal and vegetable supply across all 10 Porini camps, generating combined annual procurement savings of KES 37 million for the group.
• Managed 60 group-wide vendor relationships spanning remote camp locations, negotiating supply terms that sustained consistent stock availability despite significant logistical access and weather challenges.
• Introduced stock rotation practices across all 10 camps as part of a wider inventory overhaul, reducing spoilage and improving turnover of perishable, high-value supplies.
• Managed cross-border procurement and customs clearance for high-value safari lodge capital equipment and imported amenities, ensuring 100% compliance with KRA ICMS, KEBS PVoC, and Incoterms to eliminate port demurrage costs.
• Standardized end-month stock-take reporting, including stock variance and slow-moving stock reports, strengthening inventory accountability and visibility across the entire 10-camp operational network.

Procurement Manager at Capital Club East Africa (2014-09 – 2021-04)

Directed the full purchasing, stores, and receiving process, managing 50+ vendor relationships and a KES 750 million annual procurement budget.

• Reduced stock pilferage from a 30% baseline to below 2% of stock value by establishing structured reorder levels and tighter overall inventory control procedures.
• Renegotiated pricing and payment terms across 50+ vendor relationships, generating annual procurement savings of KES 60 million while strengthening supplier partnerships for the organization.
• Strengthened supplier governance by maintaining an updated vendor database and reference files across 50+ accounts, improving accuracy of purchasing records and payment documentation.
• Improved safety standards in stores and receiving areas across the club, reducing operational risk while supporting continuous compliance with quality and regulatory standards.
• Maintained real-time stock ledger accuracy, item recipe costing, and variance reporting across all outlets by implementing and managing MC (Materials Control / Micros).
• Trained over 20 interns across 5 years in core procurement and stores best practices, building a consistent pipeline of purchasing-ready department talent.

Senior Purchasing Officer at Ole Sereni (2011-07 – 2014-09)

Leveraged Jonas Software for daily purchasing, store receiving, department requisitions, and inventory tracking supporting 134 rooms and 5 food & beverage outlets.

• Cut monthly petty cash spend from over KES 1 million to below KES 200,000 within two months by onboarding vendors for direct bank payment.
• Eliminated KES 300,000 in obsolete stock within 3 months by redistributing surplus inventory for utilization across multiple operating hotel departments, restoring balance sheet value.
• Delivered 5-10% savings on every purchase by negotiating quantity discounts and buying directly from manufacturers across a managed base of 100+ vendor accounts.
• Converted frequently requested cash-purchase items into managed stock items, significantly reducing reliance on ad hoc petty cash transactions across the hotel organization.
• Pioneered minimum and maximum order-level requirements across all departments, aligning stock replenishment with actual operational demand and reducing overstocking of slow-moving items.
• Developed 3 purchasing and 2 stores staff through targeted, structured training programs, expanding department capacity and building long-term succession readiness for the team.

Purchasing and Stores Officer at Westland Hotels, Sankara Nairobi (2010-03 – 2011-06)

Supported a KES 1.5 billion pre-opening procurement budget for a 156-room hotel with 5 restaurants, 4 bars, and conference capacity for 500 guests.

• Configured a master materials database of 20,000+ items within MC (Materials Control), standardizing specifications and reorder levels ahead of hotel opening.
• Onboarded and vetted over 100 suppliers for the pre-opening phase, negotiating 5-10% discounts with no additional delivery costs incurred across all categories.
• Negotiated 30-day statement-based payment terms with approved suppliers across all categories, improving cash flow flexibility throughout the hotel's demanding pre-opening operational phase.
• Introduced probe-thermometer checks and temperature-control checklists at receiving for all refrigerated and frozen items, strengthening HACCP compliance across critical control points.
• Scheduled high-risk perishable deliveries for morning hours only, reducing spoilage risk and improving food safety outcomes across the entire receiving process.
• Delivered a gap-analysis report identifying corrective actions across all critical control points, supporting a fully compliant, audit-ready pre-opening operational launch for the hotel.

Purchasing Officer at Central Park Hotel (2009-01 – 2010-03)

Food and Beverage Supervisor at Galexon Hotel (K) Ltd (2001-04 – 2008-11)

Head of Purchasing and Stores Department at Hooters Restaurant (1998-11 – 2000-02)

Bachelor in Project Planning and Management – University of Nairobi

Diploma in Purchasing and Supplies Management – University of Nairobi