Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) sensitising youth to venture into entrepreneurship

Mabel Keya – Shikuku (KNA)

Micro and Small and Medium Enterprises Authority (MSEA) is running a two-year initiative aimed at strengthening the micro and small enterprises ecosystem in Kenya.

The project, being offered in collaboration with Investing in Young Business in Africa - Supporting Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development (IYBS-SEED) focuses on improving policy implementation and raising awareness among young men and women entrepreneurs about existing business support needed to thrive.

The project aims to ensure that the policies supporting entrepreneurship are well implemented, monitored and responsive to the needs of young and women entrepreneurs.

The focus sectors are agriculture, blue economy, infrastructure development, digital economy, manufacturing and financial services. 

The project targets out of school youths between the ages of 18 to 29, and up to 35 years for People (youths) Living Disability (PWDs) and seeks to empower MSEMs with knowledge to access funding, training and networking opportunities.

Senior Assistant Director for Manufacturing at the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) Ms. Tabitha Gicheru said through the Nyota Project, through the support of World Bank, the Authority is seeking to support the 110,000 vulnerable youth who have less than Form Four formal education across three counties of Nakuru, Uasin - Gishu and Kisumu with Sh50,000 grants to start their enterprises.

She was speaking to the press in Naivasha during a sensitization meeting with youth entrepreneurs from Nakuru on existing opportunities and policy supporting ecosystems that grow their business.

Ms. Gicheru noted that the Authority is sensitizing youth entrepreneurs on business opportunities and policy support and encouraged them (in the three counties) to apply for the funding through their phone the same way they apply for Hustler Fund.

IYBS-SEED Project Manager Ms. Nduta Ndirangu on her part said the three counties were selected because they have a vibrant ecosystem for entrepreneurship and have many young entrepreneurs who are eager to learn.

“Many of the youth in those counties are not aware of the policies governing the MSMEs in the country and we are sensitizing them and seeking their views as we plan to review these policies to serve them better,” she said, adding that the meeting was also meant for networking and learning.

Ms. Ndirangu revealed that so far, the project has reached 1,000 MSMEs in the three counties as it sought to create resilience among young entrepreneurs who face a big challenge of funding.

MSEA Director and Corporate Secretary Ms. Ruth Bikambo said the project is also training the young entrepreneurs in entrepreneurship and sensitizing them on the new MSME policies which are being proposed to grow the sector.

“The sector has faced challenges since 2020 when the Covid -19 pandemic set-in including lack of funding, so we are also creating linkages to financial institutions,” she stated.

She noted that the MSME Policy Review, 2025 which is at the public participation stage, is meant to encourage entrepreneurial culture, noting that the MSME sector is very key to the economy as it employs many people.

“Our business awareness programme is meant to create awareness on these policies and get to know the challenges facing the sector and inform them about the opportunities available for them and the role of government in this sector,” Bikambo said.

She said they are creating a tool to evaluate these policies to see their impact on the MSMEs sector.

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