NAIROBI, Kenya, May 9 — The Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), in partnership with SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, has wrapped up a three-county policy awareness campaign aimed at equipping youth and small businesses with knowledge of new legislative proposals meant to improve the business environment.
The initiative, under the Investing in Young Businesses in Africa (IYBA) – SEED project, targeted Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Uasin Gishu, Kisumu, and Nakuru counties.
Key focus areas included the Draft MSME Policy 2025 and the MSME Amendment Bill 2025, which seek to enhance enterprise formalization, improve coordination of support services, and drive sustainable economic growth.
MSEA’s Senior Assistant Director for Manufacturing and Agribusiness, Tabitha Gicheru, said the draft policy is structured to support entrepreneurs in four core sectors — trade, manufacturing, services, and agribusiness — through infrastructure development, trade fairs, financing, and formal registration.
“The Draft MSME Policy 2025 is a strategic blueprint aimed at fostering an integrated and enabling business environment. It empowers entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge to drive productivity, competitiveness, and job creation,” she said.
SNV’s Deputy Country Lead Nduta Ndirangu highlighted the IYBA–SEED project’s role in addressing structural challenges faced by youth and women entrepreneurs, including access to finance, policy awareness, and market linkages.
The forums drew representatives from various government and private sector agencies, including the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE), Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Kenya Institute of Business Training (KIBT), Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
MSEA’s regional officials called on youth to actively participate in public reviews of the proposed policies and take advantage of available support programs such as the National Youth Opportunities Transformation Agenda (NYOTA), which offers grants to job-creating enterprises.
