Siaya youth groups receive machinery in MSEA empowerment drive

MSEA issued machinery to 15 youth groups in Siaya County to boost youth enterprises, employment and incomes through an economic empowerment programme. Beneficiaries received equipment including welding machines, sewing machines, motorcycles, salon kits, car wash machines and other business tools to support enterprise growth. Youth were urged to apply for the Kenya Jobs and Economic…

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Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya speaking during the official opening of the 2026 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Hand in Hand Local Private Sector Investment Forum in Nairobi on Thursday, July 30. Photo/courtesy

Oparanya calls for action on coffee sector reforms

CS Wycliffe Oparanya urged investors and cooperatives to act on coffee sector reforms to revive Kenya’s coffee industry. The government has disbursed over KSh6 billion through the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund to support smallholder farmers. Oparanya said the Cooperative Societies Bill and other reforms will strengthen governance and boost the sector’s recovery. Cooperatives and…

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KCB Bank Kenya MD Annastacia Kimtai (left) and European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) Director for Sub-Saharan Africa Dr. Heike Harmgart (right) pose during the signing of a KSh 12.9 billion financing facility in Nairobi. Photo/ KCB Bank

KCB secures Ksh12.9bn EBRD funding for SME lending

KCB Bank Kenya has secured Ksh12.9 billion (US$100 million) from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to expand MSME lending. Women and youth owned businesses will receive 35 per cent of the funding, while 30 per cent will support green investments. The facility will also provide technical assistance to strengthen KCB’s green financing and…

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EBC warns Kenya’s Ksh995.7B domestic borrowing plan could tighten credit for small businesses

EBC warns Kenya’s Ksh 995.7 billion domestic borrowing plan could push banks towards government securities, tightening credit terms for small businesses. The brokerage says increased demand for government debt may lead to stricter collateral requirements, shorter repayment periods and reduced lending flexibility for MSMEs. Despite private sector credit growth, EBC cautions that smaller businesses may…

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Gov’t payment delays push Kenyan SMEs to alternative financing

Government pending bills rose to Ksh 465.87 billion by March 2026, worsening cash flow challenges for SMEs supplying public institutions. Delayed payments are forcing many SMEs to rely on trade finance and short term borrowing to meet payroll, pay suppliers and sustain operations. Kenya’s rising government pending bills are pushing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)…

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Raw Coffee berries

Govt targets tripling coffee output through sector revival programme

Govt targets raising coffee production from 50,000 to 150,000 metric tonnes by 2028/29. Ksh1 billion allocated to the sector, with Ksh4 billion released to clear cooperative debts. Farmers to receive faster payments as reforms expand coffee farming and strengthen cooperatives. The government has launched an ambitious coffee revitalisation programme aimed at tripling Kenya’s annual coffee…

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KJET opens applications for MSME clusters under new funding programme

KJET has opened applications for MSME clusters under cohorts 3 and 4, with submissions closing on 21 August 2026. Eligible cooperatives, associations and cluster based entities in 10 priority value chains will receive business development support, with some qualifying for co investment funding. The World Bank funded programme aims to boost MSME productivity, private sector…

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