On October 16th, youth-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) from Kibra showcased their businesses at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) during an exhibition hosted by the Kenya Bankers Association’s Inuka Enterprise Program. This initiative has trained nearly 20,000 entrepreneurs nationwide, equipping them with the tools to scale and sustain their businesses.
The displayed businesses represented various sectors, including health drinks, hair growth products, agriculture, and recycling.
From Mtaa Safi Initiative, Denis shared how the Inuka program has transformed their operations. “Before joining the Inuka program, we primarily relied on garbage collection as our main source of income. The training challenged us to think beyond that. Now, we’ve diversified our activities to include a small vegetable garden, and our income has grown. We’re even able to offer loans to our members,” he said.
Czar, the owner of Czar Healthy Squeez, highlighted the program’s impact on his business strategy. “The module on strategic planning stood out for me. I realized that I can’t just make decisions on the fly as a business owner. I need to have a clear strategy and a practical plan for achieving my goals,” he explained.
According to a report by the Kenya Bankers Association, MSMEs contribute roughly a third of Kenya’s GDP, generating approximately 5 million Kenyan shillings annually. Moreover, these enterprises account for eight to nine out of every ten jobs in the country.
“MSMEs play a crucial role not only in economic growth but also in reducing poverty. Supporting their growth is vital, and the banking sector has committed 150 billion Kenyan shillings annually for the next three years to help these businesses thrive,” said John Gachora, Chairman of the Kenya Bankers Association.
