By John Kariuki
Principal Secretary Susan Mangeni of the State Department for MSMEs Development has reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to transforming Kenya’s economy by unlocking growth opportunities for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Speaking during a high-level meeting with a delegation from Equity Bank led by Dr. James Mwangi, Group Managing Director and CEO of Equity Group Holdings Plc, PS Mangeni emphasized the importance of creating a business-friendly environment that supports small enterprises and empowers entrepreneurs across the country.
“We are implementing bold reforms to unlock MSME growth, starting with the decriminalization of informal work so that every Kenyan can operate with dignity,” PS Mangeni stated.
The Principal Secretary outlined the government’s key commitments under the BETA transformation agenda, which focuses on enhancing agricultural productivity, undertaking structural reforms in the MSME sector, expanding affordable housing and healthcare, and improving access to finance. She highlighted the significant progress made in simplifying business processes and reducing regulatory burdens through digital platforms.
“Today, you can register a business, apply for government tenders, and begin trading with as little as Ksh 1,000—all from the comfort of your home via e-Citizen,” PS Mangeni noted.
She further underscored the government’s priority areas for MSME transformation, which include decriminalizing informal work to ensure dignity and formal recognition, simplifying regulations to ease market entry for micro-traders and street vendors, digitizing public services to cut bureaucracy and operational costs, and unlocking affordable financing through public-private partnerships.
During the engagement, Equity Bank expressed strong support for the government’s MSME agenda. Dr. Mwangi pledged the bank’s commitment to go beyond financial lending by building capacity, supporting youth entrepreneurs, and developing a youth-focused banking division tailored to the needs of the next generation of business owners.
Both parties emphasized the need for data-sharing, digital public infrastructure, and interoperable platforms to bridge the financing gap. Equity Bank backed the idea of a shared, multi-sectoral credit scoring system that integrates data from health, education, and trade to create accurate credit profiles for informal entrepreneurs.
This strategic dialogue marks a critical step in co-creating a thriving and inclusive MSME ecosystem in Kenya.
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