Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nyandarua County are set to benefit from improved quality of products, as well as easier and wider market access.
This follows a partnership between the county government and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
The initiative, spearheaded by Governor Dr. Moses Kiarie Badilisha working closely with the KEBS, aims to equip local businesses with the knowledge and skills required to meet quality standards and certification requirements for both local and international markets.
While receiving a KEBS delegation at the County Ardhi House in Kaimbaga Ward, in Ol’Kalou, during a courtesy call, the County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Cooperative Development, Industrialization and Partnership, John Muiru, who represented the governor, said the awareness programme would enable SMEs to improve the quality of their products and access wider markets.
Muiru noted that the cooperation will also provide business incubation training for emerging entrepreneurs in all 25 wards in Nyandarua.
He further observed that the collaboration will help them build sustainable and competitive enterprises.
“The partnership will empower our SMEs by ensuring they understand quality standards and certification processes, making their products more competitive in various markets,” said Muiru.
The County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Agribusiness, Livestock and Fisheries, Francis Miring’u, lauded the collaboration, saying it would significantly benefit farmers involved in key value chains such as potatoes, dairy, and agro-processing.
Additionally, Miring’u noted that adherence to quality standards will enable farmers and agribusiness enterprises to access regional and international markets, hence increasing the value of their products and boosting incomes.
Nyandarua County Government has prioritized the growth of SMEs and agribusinesses as part of its broader economic development agenda, recognizing the sector as a major source of employment and wealth creation.
The meeting was also attended by the Chief Officer for Trade, Cooperative Development and Industrialization, Njeri Njoroge and her Partnerships and Resources Mobilization counterpart, Gitau Mburu, alongside officials from KEBS.
By Esther Kibiro and Josephine Kalondu
