MSMEs - Sacco Review | The Leading Newspaper for Co-operative Movement in Kenya

Government moves to cushion small traders and MSMEs from rising business costs

Sacco ReviewMay 18, 202603 mins

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…

Co‑operative Bank posts record quarterly profit as digital growth fuels expansion

Sacco ReviewMay 18, 202605 mins

Co‑operative Bank of Kenya has reported its strongest quarterly performance in history, posting a profit before tax of KSh11.37 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2026. The result, announced on May 13, represents an 18.1 per cent increase from KSh9.63 billion recorded in the same period last year. Profit after tax rose even…

Oparanya: Flaws in MSME and SACCO laws hurting sector growth

Sacco ReviewMay 17, 202604 mins

The government has admitted that weaknesses in existing laws governing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies (SACCOs) are slowing the growth and effectiveness of the sector. Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and MSME Development Wycliffe Oparanya told lawmakers that gaps in the current legal framework have undermined efforts to strengthen…

Government pushes new MSME policy to ease credit access and formalisation

Sacco ReviewMay 7, 202605 mins

The government has stepped up efforts to strengthen Kenya’s small business sector through a fresh policy drive aimed at easing access to finance, boosting competitiveness, and encouraging informal enterprises to formalise. Regulators and development partners are intensifying outreach to micro, small and medium‑sized enterprises (MSMEs) amid concerns that many firms remain locked out of structured…

Absa Bank commits Ksh100 billion to revamped asset financing model for MSMEs

Sacco ReviewMay 6, 2026May 7, 202605 mins

Absa Bank Kenya has unveiled a new asset financing model dubbed ABF 2.0 that will deploy Ksh100 billion over the next three years to empower micro, small, and medium‑sized enterprises (MSMEs) as well as individual customers. The revamped model is designed to improve access to productive assets and accelerate growth across key sectors of the…

Gov’t moves to modernise county markets, boost MSME competitiveness

Sacco ReviewMay 6, 2026May 6, 202604 mins

Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Investment, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui has outlined a comprehensive government strategy to modernise county markets and strengthen support for traders and small businesses, signalling a sharper policy focus on the informal and micro-enterprise sector as a driver of economic growth. Appearing before the Senate Plenary at Parliament buildings on May…

Women-led enterprises driving innovation and economic growth across Kenya

Sacco ReviewApril 25, 202607 mins

Women are increasingly taking the reins of entrepreneurship, driving innovation and economic growth in the country. Globally, according to the World Bank, one-third of businesses worldwide have a woman among their principal owners. This number is steadily rising, with the number of startups with female founders doubling globally. Studies also suggest that women-led businesses are…

MSEA, SNV roll out fifth phase of MSME policy awareness forums across three counties

Sacco ReviewApril 25, 202605 mins

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…

Agriculture sector tops investor exits as private capital activity declines in Q1 2026

Sacco ReviewApril 21, 202604 mins

The agriculture sector recorded the highest proportion of investor exits across Africa in the first quarter of 2026 (Q1), underscoring shifting dynamics in private capital flows. According to the latest report by African market intelligence firm Stears, nearly 30 per cent of agriculture‑related transactions during the period involved investors pulling out. At the same time,…

State launches first MSME Opportunity Readiness Index at SalesFest Africa

Sacco ReviewMarch 13, 2026March 15, 202605 mins

Kenya has launched the country’s first Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Opportunity Readiness Index (Fursa Index), marking a significant step in efforts for micro and small enterprises to access to real economic opportunities and participate in structured markets. The index was unveiled on Thursday, March 12 during the SalesFest Africa – Chanuka Jipange Edition….