- Uwezo Fund beneficiaries are drawing attention at a major continental business gathering.
- Women, youth and entrepreneurs with disabilities are pushing for greater access to business growth opportunities.
- Fresh calls are emerging for stronger links between small businesses and long-term financing.
Women, youth and persons with disabilities benefiting from the Uwezo Fund have emerged as a key focus at the inaugural Africa Commerce and Industry Summit (ACIS) 2026, with their business journeys highlighting the role of affordable financing in expanding economic opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs.
The three-day summit, taking place at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi under the banner KNCCI@60, has brought together government and private sector players to explore ways of strengthening trade, investment and industrial growth across Africa.
Uwezo Fund Chief Executive Officer Peter Lengapiani joined Principal Secretary for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Susan Auma Mang’eni at the event, where the Fund showcased beneficiaries whose enterprises have been supported through interest-free financing, business capacity building and market linkages.
The initiative targets registered groups of women, youth and persons with disabilities across Kenya’s 290 constituencies, seeking to improve access to capital and create opportunities for businesses that often face barriers to growth.
Speaking at the summit, Mang’eni called for greater access to growth capital for MSMEs, urging African securities exchanges to strengthen their engagement with small businesses.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Livestock Bill proposes new fund, regulator and leather body
She emphasised the importance of improving governance, encouraging innovation and boosting competitiveness to prepare enterprises to access long-term financing through capital markets.
The Principal Secretary also challenged summit organisers to give women and young entrepreneurs greater attention in discussions and initiatives addressing unemployment, noting their significant presence in the MSME sector.
MSMEs are expected to generate at least 70 per cent of the jobs needed to meet Kenya’s projected annual employment demand of 1.2 million, placing the sector at the centre of efforts to expand economic opportunities.
As the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) celebrates 60 years of promoting business, Mang’eni reaffirmed the State Department’s commitment to working with the organisation to strengthen enterprise capacity, open up business opportunities and improve the competitiveness of Kenyan firms.
Discussions at the summit also highlighted the need for stronger partnerships between government and the private sector to help small businesses formalise their operations, access procurement opportunities, attract investment and connect with regional and international supply chains.
By Lizzy Aluga
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!
