The government has unveiled a series of interventions aimed at easing the financial strain on small‑scale traders and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) struggling with the rising cost of doing business.
Appearing before the Senate Plenary, Cabinet Secretary for Co‑operatives and MSME Development Wycliffe Oparanya outlined ongoing programmes designed to provide affordable financing, expand market access, build capacity, drive digital transformation, and support formalisation and value chain development.
Oparanya said the initiatives are being implemented through agencies such as the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority, alongside worksites and industrial development centres.
Oparanya told senators that the government is expanding access to affordable credit through the Hustler Fund, Kenya Industrial Estates, SACCOs, and other programmes. He emphasised that the interventions are tailored to ensure traders, youth, women, and persons with disabilities are not excluded from finance, training, and business development support.
“These interventions are meant to ensure that traders, youth, women and persons with disabilities are not left behind in accessing finance, markets, training and business development support,” Oparanya said.
ALSO READ:
Oparanya: Flaws in MSME and SACCO laws hurting sector growth
On the coffee sector, the CS said the ministry is addressing outstanding obligations, including terminal dues owed to former Kenya Planters Co‑operative Union staff and coffee proceeds due to farmers under the debt waiver programme.
He also clarified the temporary suspension of new SACCO registrations, stressing that it was not a freeze but a strategic pause to protect member savings, restore integrity, and strengthen governance. Registration has since resumed under new administrative guidelines following a review of the legal and regulatory framework.
Oparanya reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to building a co‑operative and MSME sector that creates jobs, protects livelihoods, promotes savings, expands markets, and supports inclusive economic transformation.
By Masaki Enock
Get more stories from our website: Sacco Review.
For comments and clarifications, write to: Saccoreview@
Kindly follow us via our social media pages on Facebook: Sacco Review Newspaper for timely updates
Stay ahead of the pack! Grab the latest Sacco Review newspaper!
