Business startups initiated by the youth and women in Kisumu, Nakuru, and Uasin Gishu counties are set to benefit from a new business development program aimed at equipping the proprietors with essential skills, tools, and networks to ensure success and sustainable growth.
The initiative, dubbed Investing in Young Businesses in Africa-Supporting Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development (IYBA SEED), will run up to November 2026.
This skills-building program is a joint effort between the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) and the Netherland's Development Organization (SNV Kenya), focusing on strengthening the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) ecosystem.
Tabitha Gicheru, MSEA's Senior Assistant Director for Manufacturing and Agribusiness, said the program seeks to create awareness among youth and women entrepreneurs about existing support frameworks, including the draft MSME Policy 2025 and the MSME Amendment Bill 2025, which aim to enhance policy implementation in the sector. "The program targets critical barriers such as limited access to finance, policy gaps, and other challenges hindering the growth of young and women entrepreneurs," she noted.
