Nyeri: Players in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector have urged the government to formulate strong import-related policies to protect local manufacturers from unfair competition. The investors have expressed concern that the influx of cheap imports poses a significant challenge to their operations, potentially impacting the economy and threatening the country's competitive edge in the global market.
According to Kenya News Agency, during a public participation exercise in Nyeri aimed at reviewing the draft MSME Policy and MSME amendment Bill of 2025, entrepreneurs called for the establishment of laws that would enable local manufacturers to produce high-quality products meeting international standards. They emphasized the need to shield local businesses from the detrimental effects of cheaply imported goods flooding the market.
James Mugo, a Jua kali artisan from Kirinyaga, highlighted the need for policies banning the importation of goods that could be produced locally. He advocated for leveraging relationships with manufacturing powerhouses like China to educate local manufacturers on enhancing product quality to meet global standards or encouraging foreign investors to set up industries in the country.
Echoing Mugo's sentiments, Kariuki Muriuki from Nyandarua challenged both national and county governments to collaborate in establishing infrastructures conducive to entrepreneurship. Muriuki noted that young people shy away from entrepreneurship due to a lack of supportive environments for local businesses.
Caroline Wairima, a deaf businesswoman from Nyeri, urged the government to ensure the policy encourages the inclusion of marginalized groups, particularly People Living with Disabilities (PWDs), in accessing business incentives. She pointed out ongoing discrimination against PWDs in entrepreneurship, which hinders their contribution to nation-building.
The public engagement forum drew participants from Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Murang'a, Nyandarua, and Nyeri counties. The State Department for MSMEs is looking to revise the MSME Policy of 2020 and the MSME Act of 2012 to align with current business demands.
Daniel Mathenge, the Youth Development Enterprise Fund Innovations Manager, stated that the revisions would address 11 major challenges facing the MSME sector. Mathenge emphasized that the review aims to develop practical solutions to existing issues, making the policy more inclusive and responsive to current business needs.
Irene Omogi, head of the Programme for Promotion of Self Employment and Entrepreneurship at the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), identified key challenges the policy review seeks to address. These include easing access to credit for informal businesses and establishing market linkages to expand local businesses' reach to regional and global markets.
Omogi added that the policy proposes linking learning and research institutions and technology developers with MSMEs to encourage skills transfer. It also suggests strategies for incorporating innovations into daily business operations to meet client needs.
Nyeri County Commissioner Ronald Mwiwawi expressed optimism that the policy review would elevate the MSME sector and support industrial growth in the country. He encouraged youths to embrace entrepreneurship, noting its significant contribution to county revenue.
Mwiwawi highlighted the policy's alignment with the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda, emphasizing its potential to nurture talents, incubate innovations, and inspire youth entrepreneurship.