KEPSA, through the Jiinue Growth Program, successfully completed two investor readiness trainings this week. The two days trainings occurred between Wednesday 23^rd October and Friday 25^th October 2024, in Nyandarua, and the other in Nairobi attracting a total of 38 SMEs.

The Investor Readiness training aims to prepare local entrepreneurs for investment and equip them with financial literacy and management skills, ultimately linking them to funding opportunities. This core mandate provides essential information needed to attract and secure the investment needed to grow their businesses.

Ms. June Mwangi, KEPSA Technical Assistance Lead, opened the session in Nyandarua by guiding participants through the KEPSA profile, mandate, and various initiatives in different sectors that seek to support businesses ranging from corporates to SMEs by providing an enabling business environment. Ms. Mwangi also encouraged entrepreneurs to pursue business opportunities with determination actively. Following her remarks, the sessions developed into a comprehensive training on advanced business knowledge and financial management, led by Brian Munaita and James Ng’ang’a.

In the Nairobi training, during his opening remarks, Clerkson Aroni, Communication Assistant at KEPSA, introduced the MSME Financing Gateway explaining the platform’s role in transforming access to financial resources for small businesses across Kenya and East Africa. “Our goal is to bridge the gap between MSMEs and the vast array of funding opportunities, ensuring that no business is left behind in their quest for growth and sustainability,” he pointed out.

Throughout the two-day Nairobi training, Ms. Pauline Kieme and Mr. Benson Ndegwa guided participants through a comprehensive program that built on essential financial literacy and management skills to support business growth. On the first day, they covered fundamental aspects of financial planning, helping participants align their growth plans with existing financial obligations to ensure a steady trajectory. This foundation enabled participants to scale their businesses effectively, balancing immediate responsibilities with future growth potential.

By the second day, the trainers provided insights into advanced scaling strategies and emphasized the significance of site visits as part of the funding process. They explained that site visits give funders valuable insights into each business's condition and operations, establishing trust and transparency essential to successful partnerships. Highlighting that each phase of the process is designed to foster alignment between businesses and funders, they concluded by encouraging participants to see these steps as key to building investment readiness, empowering them to approach funding opportunities with confidence.

KEPSA through the Jiinue Growth Program is set to continue expanding the training to other regions nationwide in the coming months, with plans to support over 7,000 SMEs across the country within the next two years. The program specifically aims to address the funding gap for young women and men-owned and led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by pairing financial support with tailored technical assistance and coordinated strategies involving various ecosystem players.

Through these initiatives, KEPSA continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing the entrepreneurial landscape in Kenya, empowering local businesses to thrive.

Nairobi Photos: https://shorturl.at/jVSQ3

Nyandarua Photos: https://shorturl.at/CfecW