KEPSA, through the Jiinue Growth Program, successfully completed two investor readiness trainings this week. The first training at The Fort Hotel in Wote town, Makueni County, occurred on Monday 14^th October and Tuesday 15^th October 2024, attracting 65 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). On Wednesday 16^th October 2024, the program extended its reach to Machakos County, where another inaugural training was held at Lau Hotel, concluding today and drawing 20 SMEs.

The Investor readiness program aims at equipping local entrepreneurs with financial literacy and financial management skills after which link them to financing which is a core mandate to information needed to attract investment and scale their business skill. Mr. Harrison Ngatia, KEPSA Chief SME & Enterprise Development Officer, during his opening remarks, emphasized five critical areas aimed at empowering local entrepreneurs during his opening remarks. He began by addressing the role of the program in linking businesses to various opportunities, starting with funding. He made it clear that access to funding is contingent on meeting eligibility criteria. "We are taking you through training to increase your chances of getting funding, and you will only receive it if you are eligible based on the program requirements," he stated.

Mr. Ngatia stressed the importance of having a financial track record, as without it, financiers cannot assess the potential of a business in its process to secure funding by their ability to repay. He further highlighted the need for businesses to expand beyond local markets. Entrepreneurs looking to grow their operations outside Makueni were encouraged to embrace digital solutions. He pointed out that competition is no longer local but global, stating, "Right now, your competition isn’t just in Makueni; it also comes from businesses in China, the U.S., Nigeria, and worldwide through the digital platforms." This message underscored the importance of market expansion and the use of digital tools to reach international consumers.

Innovation was also a key focus in his address. He urged businesses to continuously innovate to remain competitive on a global scale. Mr. Ngatia further assured participants that KEPSA is committed to addressing the issues affecting small businesses through policy advocacy. He also emphasized that gaining the right skills is just as important for long-term business success. "We hope that over the next two days, whether you get funding or not, you will gain valuable skills to grow your business," he concluded, expressing confidence that the program would equip participants with the tools needed to grow in today’s competitive market.

Ms. June Mwangi, KEPSA Technical Assistant Lead, walked the participants through the KEPSA profile and mandate, clearly highlighting the role of KEPSA in supporting businesses. She outlined the SME window financing under the program as affordable loans ranging between Kes 100,000 to Kes 14,000,000. She additionally emphasized the importance of understanding and knowing your business with business functions in depth despite the myriads of activities day in and day out. As she delved into the financing products, she advised the entrepreneurs to put themselves out there and target business opportunities with a lot of self-drive.

Building on this, the sessions transitioned into a detailed training on in-depth business knowledge and record keeping, facilitated by Ms. Pauline Kieme and Mr. Lazurus Nthusi. The trainers highlighted the "Business Model Canvas (BMC) and the 5 principles of financial management amongst other areas through the first day of the training.”

Makueni Photos: https://shorturl.at/YGxG5

Machakos Photos: https://shorturl.at/uecDX