Richard Muteti Calls on Accountants to Champion MSME Growth at ICPAK Economic Symposium

 Richard Muteti, HSC, Chief Executive Officer of the Confederation of Micro Small Enterprises Organization East Africa and Chairman of the SMEs Work Group at the COMESA Business Council, today delivered a keynote presentation at the 34th Economic Symposium hosted by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK).

The symposium, themed “Revitalizing Kenyan MSMEs for Regional & Global Competitiveness,” brought together policymakers, financial experts and enterprise leaders to explore strategies for strengthening Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as engines of economic growth.

In his address, Muteti underscored the critical role of accountants in transforming the MSME sector, urging professionals to move beyond traditional compliance roles and embrace a more strategic position as growth partners.

He noted that MSMEs form the backbone of Kenya’s economy and require robust financial guidance, innovation support and market-oriented advisory services to scale competitively within regional and global markets.

“Accountants must be growth partners, not just compliance officers,” Muteti stated, emphasising that proactive financial advisory, data-driven decision-making and enterprise mentorship are essential in enabling MSMEs to formalise, access finance and expand sustainably.

He further highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between financial professionals, business support organisations and regional trade bodies to unlock new opportunities for MSMEs across the COMESA region.

The symposium provided a high-level platform for dialogue on policy, financial inclusion and enterprise development, reinforcing the importance of professional expertise in revitalising Kenya’s MSME ecosystem and positioning local enterprises for regional and global competitiveness.