Business owners in Muhoroni Sub-County, Kisumu County, have benefited from a training program organized by the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) in partnership with Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV Kenya).
The initiative aims at strengthening the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through practical skills, policy awareness, and ecosystem support.
Over 50 local small-scale traders were trained through the Investing in Young Businesses in Africa – Supporting Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (IYBA–SEED) program.
It focused on equipping traders with tools to scale their enterprises sustainably while navigating regulatory frameworks.
Speaking during the forum, SNV IYBA–SEED Project Manager Nduta Ndirangu emphasized the project’s long-term vision of fostering a resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem.
She noted that SNV is working closely with stakeholders like MSEA to promote the MSME Policy 2025 and the MSME Amendment Bill 2025.
The two documents, Ndirangu explained, are expected to address persistent challenges such as access to finance, markets, and regulatory barriers.
“This initiative is about strengthening ecosystem players and ensuring MSMEs are well-informed and actively engaged in shaping policies that affect them,” she said, adding that the sensitization forum is being implemented in Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, and Nakuru Counties.
MSEA Senior Assistant Director of Manufacturing and Agribusiness, Tabitha Gicheru, highlighted the authority’s mandate to support women and youth-led MSMEs.
Gicheru explained that the training aims to bridge the knowledge gap around policies that many entrepreneurs are yet to fully understand.
“We have brought together MSMEs from sectors such as leather, textiles, and agribusiness to ensure their voices are captured in the policy process,” she noted.
Gicheru added, “This is our fifth forum, and we are working with partners across the ecosystem, including the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Women Enterprise Fund, and other stakeholders to make this initiative impactful.”
Local traders welcomed the training, citing persistent challenges that continue to hinder growth. Simon Ochieng, Chairperson of the Muhoroni Jua Kali Artisan Association, pointed out gaps in marketing opportunities, trade spaces, and access to affordable credit.
“After producing goods, many artisans struggle to find markets,” he said. “We also need designated spaces to operate from and access to loans that can help us upscale and repay sustainably.”
He added that continuous training and partnerships with organizations like SNV and business associations are crucial in improving the capacity of local entrepreneurs.
Ochieng also stressed the importance of policy awareness, noting that traders will now be better equipped to comply with tax obligations and government regulations.
By Robert Ojwang
