SUSAN MANG’ENI HAILS PRESIDENT RUTO’S DIRECTIVES AS BOOST FOR MSMEs AND LOCAL TRADERS

Principal Secretary for MSME Development Susan Mang’eni has welcomed a raft of new directives by President William Ruto aimed at reducing the cost of doing business for small traders, streamlining cargo clearance and protecting opportunities for Kenyan-owned enterprises.

The President convened representatives of various MSME traders’ groups in Nairobi alongside relevant Government agencies, including the Kenya Revenue Authority, the State Department for Industry and the State Department for MSME Development, to address concerns surrounding the taxation, clearance and handling of consolidated imports.

The meeting produced what PS Mang’eni described as an important breakthrough for MSMEs operating in the trade sector, with the measures expected to ease the challenges faced by traders while encouraging compliance and the formalisation of businesses.

Under the new directives, the cargo consolidation threshold will be reduced to **KSh2 million**, provided the goods qualify for consolidation.

President Ruto also directed Kenya Railways to substantially reduce the charge for containerised cargo transported from the Inland Container Depot (ICD) to the Bomaline De-consolidation Centre, cutting the cost from **KSh58,000 to KSh10,000**.

The reduction is expected to significantly ease the financial burden on small traders who rely on consolidated cargo to import merchandise.

The President further directed that the **Advance Cargo Declaration requirement be removed**, a move intended to simplify the clearance process and facilitate legitimate trade.

Another major aspect of the directives is the protection of opportunities for Kenyan traders and workers.

President Ruto directed the expansion of existing legislation to reserve retail trade and specified lower-level jobs for Kenyans, while clearly defining areas where foreign participation will be permitted.

The measure is expected to strengthen the position of Kenyan MSMEs and create a more predictable environment in which local enterprises can grow and compete.

For PS Mang’eni, the directives demonstrate the Government’s commitment to listening to the concerns of MSMEs and responding with practical interventions that address the cost and regulatory barriers affecting their businesses.

The State Department for MSME Development is expected to work closely with the multi-stakeholder committee and relevant Government agencies to ensure that the directives are implemented effectively.

The measures come at a time when MSMEs remain a critical pillar of Kenya’s economy, providing employment, supporting household incomes and driving economic activity across the country.

By lowering logistics costs, simplifying cargo clearance and strengthening opportunities for Kenyan-owned businesses, the latest interventions could provide significant relief to traders and contribute to the formalisation and expansion of the MSME sector.

PS Mang’eni’s commitment to working with stakeholders to translate the President’s directives into action will be crucial in ensuring that the decisions made at the meeting deliver tangible benefits to traders across the country.