On September 18th, 2024, KEPSA inaugurated the Eldoret training at Eka Hotel, bringing together 56 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for the Investor Readiness training workshop under the Jiinue Growth Program (JGP). Mr. Harrison Ngatia, KEPSA Chief SME & Enterprise Development Officer, during his opening remarks, highlighted the ongoing commitment by KEPSA explaining that the investor readiness training was the first valuable form support the business will be getting beside linking to funding, offering access to new markets, policy and regulations, and innovations to help drive sustainable growth for their businesses. Ms. June Mwangi, KEPSA Technical Assistance Lead shared a detailed overview of the Jiinue Growth Program and its focus areas, ensuring the entrepreneurs understood how the program could support their business growth.

Simultaneously, the Nairobi edition Investor Readiness Training at the Best Western Plus Hotel continued with an ongoing cohort on September 18th, 2024, which will be completed on Friday, 20^th September 2024. The training brought together a total of 50 SMEs from the Nairobi region, underscoring the ongoing KEPSA commitment to foster the growth of local businesses through tailored support and capacity building.

Among this week’s activities, KEPSA also inaugurated the Kitale training on 16^th September 2024, at The Gific Hotel, drawing 40 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for the Investor Readiness training workshop. The focus of the workshop was to guide entrepreneurs in accessing funds to improve their business operations. During the session, Mr. Ngatia emphasized the need for business owners to expand their mindset beyond local competition, highlighting how entrepreneurs today are not just competing locally, but also globally, with markets as far-reaching as China.

KEPSA team also visited a training for micro enterprises in Kitale conducted by Ms. Joyce and Jewel, Jiinue Enterprise Trainers in Western Region at Mid City hotel, where an insightful workshop under the program. In attendance were 35 micro business entrepreneurs, being taken through the life skills and customer service sessions, which was being covered on day one of the training. During the engagements with thetraining participants, Mr. Harrison urged participants to build their credibility by repaying their debts which will ensure they will continuously getting more funding for their growth. “You will always need funding,” he said He referenced those who received loans but defaulted during the COVID period under the Covid Recovery and Resilience Program (CRRP) who are now not eligible to get funding under JGP. He  emphasized that defaulters would struggle to secure future loans and stressed the need for developing a culture of paying debts to grow businesses.

Ms. Mwangi, reinforced the message, advising business owners to communicate openly with lenders if they are unable to meet repayment obligations. “Business people should learn to open up when they are facing financial difficulties,” she said, encouraging transparency and integrity as a path to sustainable business growth.

Kitale Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBHJxs

Eldoret Photos: https://shorturl.at/5m9g5v

Nairobi Photos: https://shorturl.at/jseyB