Kisumu: 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.
According to Kenya News Agency, 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.
Nduta Ndirangu, Deputy Country Lead for the IYBA-SEED project, highlighted the program’s impact-driven focus across key sectors including agri-food, energy, and water. She emphasized that IYBA SEED is designed to foster awareness, improve access to business development services, and facilitate stronger market linkages for emerging entrepreneurs. ‘Supporting youth and women entrepreneurship requires policies that are not only well implemented but also responsive to their evolving needs,’ Ndirangu added.
Speaking at a business policy sensitization forum in Kisumu attended by 115 MSMEs, Gicheru underscored the importance of aligning young and women entrepreneurs with government initiatives such as the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) and the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET) programs. She urged entrepreneurs to take advantage of these initiatives for wealth and employment creation. ‘These funds are designed to drive economic empowerment by putting money directly into people’s pockets,’ she said.
The NYOTA program targets over 100,000 youth-led startups, focusing on individuals aged 18-29 and extending to 35 for persons with disabilities. KJET supports enterprise groups involved in sectors such as dairy, edible oils, construction, leather, and textiles. Gicheru further announced the extension of the NYOTA application deadline to May 15, allowing more eligible youth and women to apply.