Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Kakuma, Turkana County, have been urged to embrace partnerships as a pathway to unlocking new markets, attracting investors, and driving enterprise development.
The call was made by the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Trade, Gender, Youth Affairs, and Tourism, Roseline Aite, during a one-day Business-to-Business (B2B) forum held in Kakuma.
The event was organised by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) under the Kakuma Kalobeyei Challenge Fund (KKCF) and brought together more than 100 MSMEs, along with business financiers, market leaders, government officials, and policy influencers.
“With this kind of forum, I believe our MSMEs that have benefitted from KKCF’s business support programmes can now begin to form partnerships for progress,” said Aite.
She emphasised that the county government’s trade and enterprise agenda focuses on revitalising local economies, creating jobs, and improving livelihoods, and pledged continued support for similar initiatives.
To strengthen collaboration and build a unified business voice, the CECM proposed the formation of a Kakuma Business Association.
“Let us consider forming a business association that will bring together MSMEs and transform Kakuma and Kalobeyei into a model for inclusive enterprise development in fragile settings,” she said.
Chief Officer for Trade Development Pauline Tangarae echoed the call for structured partnerships, especially amid dwindling donor support, climate-related challenges, and the anticipated phasing out of the KKCF project.
“I would be surprised if you left here without establishing a platform for continuous learning and exchange of ideas,” she told participants. “This forum has provided you with the networks needed to make that happen.”
The event featured sector-specific discussions in over 15 business areas, product exhibitions, experience-sharing sessions, and networking opportunities.
Participants cited several challenges affecting business operations, including poor infrastructure, licensing hurdles, frequent power outages, and a shortage of specialised manpower.
Representing the MSME owners, Lokwii Geoffrey said the forum helped him understand the implications of Kakuma’s upgrade to municipality status, particularly the introduction of more stringent quality control measures.
He expressed appreciation to the CECM and other policymakers for clarifying what the upgrade means for local businesses.
Another MSME owner, Florence Kawira, added that the push for partnerships would enhance inclusivity in communicating available business support programmes.
The event was also attended and addressed by Turkana West Sub-County Administrator Christine Nalemsekon, John Nyawir of Huduma Centre Turkana, and staff from the Kakuma Biashara Huduma Centre.
By Peter Gitonga
