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| DG MSEA Henry Rithaa |
The Kenyan government has officially launched the MSMEs Connect, a new initiative aimed at transforming and empowering the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector, which is seen as the backbone of the country's economy. The event, held at a Nairobi venue, was graced by Cabinet Secretary Hon. FCPA Dr. Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, EGH, who reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering MSME growth through enhanced collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Speaking at the launch of the Kenya Public-Private Sector MSME Dialogue, CS Oparanya emphasized the critical role of MSMEs in driving innovation and enterprise across all sectors of the economy. He noted that the government's focus on MSMEs is pivotal to achieving sustainable economic growth, particularly as the sector contributes significantly to job creation, poverty reduction, and economic dynamism.
“This renewed focus on MSMEs is driven by the sector's substantial contribution to Kenya’s economy. MSMEs drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation across sectors, making their growth and competitiveness central to our national development agenda,” said CS Oparanya.
Despite the sector’s significant impact, MSMEs continue to face several challenges that hinder their full potential. These challenges include high levels of informality, limited access to finance, low productivity, and the adverse effects of climate change. CS Oparanya called for collaboration among stakeholders to tackle these barriers and create an environment conducive to the sector’s growth.
“To overcome these challenges, we must build synergy among all players – from government to the private sector – to scale up support for MSMEs,” he added.
The MSMEs Connect initiative will be rolled out nationwide, providing a platform for dialogue between various stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector players, and financial institutions, to support MSME growth. The program seeks to address the needs of entrepreneurs by facilitating discussions, knowledge sharing, and the development of solutions tailored to the unique challenges facing the sector.
In his address, the CS also highlighted the crucial role of the private sector in promoting MSME growth, noting that MSMEs Connect marks a new era of public-private collaboration. He urged all actors to actively participate in these discussions and foster tangible change for the sector’s benefit.
Further underscoring the government’s commitment to MSMEs, CS Oparanya mentioned the youth-focused initiatives such as KJET and NYOTA, which are designed to support over one million young entrepreneurs. These multimillion-shilling projects, set to roll out by June, aim to empower youth by providing them with opportunities in entrepreneurship and business development.
The launch event also saw discussions around the upcoming East African Trade Fair, which the government encourages MSMEs to participate in. CS Oparanya emphasized that the trade fair would serve as an excellent opportunity for businesses to market their products, network, and explore new avenues for growth.
“The East African Trade Fair presents a prime opportunity for MSMEs to expand their reach, showcase their products, and network with potential partners,” he said.
Hon. Susan Mang'eni, Principal Secretary of the State Department of Cooperatives, and other key stakeholders, including Safaricom PLC, Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE), Uwezo Fund, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), and Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), were also present to lend their support to the initiative.
The MSMEs Connect platform aims to foster an environment of collaboration and dialogue to help Kenyan MSMEs overcome their challenges and maximize their contribution to the nation’s economic progress.
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