The Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), in partnership with SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, has launched the fifth phase of business awareness forums aimed at strengthening policy uptake and improving access to support services among micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Kenya.
The latest phase builds on four previous engagements and targets a more informed MSME ecosystem through structured sensitisation and enhanced monitoring tools, as policymakers and development partners seek to unlock the sector’s growth potential.
The forums were held in Nakuru, Uasin Gishu and Kisumu counties, bringing together over 100 enterprises, with participation drawn from youth, women and persons with disabilities operating largely within the leather and textile value chains.
Stakeholders present included the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI).
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Speaking during the sessions, MSEA Senior Assistant Director Tabitha Gicheru highlighted the Authority’s role in supporting enterprise development, noting the importance of formalisation and targeted capacity-building initiatives.
She pointed to ongoing programmes such as the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) and the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET) fund as key interventions supporting MSMEs, alongside continued investment in Jua Kali worksites and Constituency Industrial Development Centres (CIDCs).
“We are committed to creating an enabling environment for MSMEs by providing workspaces through Jua Kali worksites and CIDCs while also implementing projects like NYOTA and KJET to accelerate business growth,” Gicheru said.
A key highlight of the forums was sensitisation on the MSME Policy and the proposed MSME Amendment Bill 2025, which seeks to improve access to finance, enhance competitiveness and formalise informal businesses to drive job creation. The forums also generated stakeholder feedback expected to inform future policy refinements.
SNV Investing in Young Businesses in Africa Supporting Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development (IYBA-SEED) Project Manager Nduta Ndirangu said the organisation remains focused on strengthening enterprises in the agri-food, energy and water sectors through the IYBA-SEED programme, designed to expand access to both financial and non-financial business development services, particularly for youth and women-led enterprises.
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“The IYBA-SEED programme equips youth and women-led businesses with the tools needed for long-term success, driving economic transformation,” Ndirangu said.
The MSEA-SNV collaboration comes at a time when Kenya is increasingly positioning MSMEs as a critical driver of economic growth, with a renewed focus on sustainability across sectors, including manufacturing, digital innovation and the green economy.
By Benedict Aoya
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