Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET) Steering Committee Deliberate on Project’s Implementation Progress

The Principal Secretary for MSME Development, Susan Mangeni, alongside Investment  promotion Principal Secretary Abubakar Hassan, co-chaired the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET) Steering Committee meeting comprising of technical officers from World Bank , Implementing agencies: Micro and Small Enterprises Authority(MSEA), Ken Invest, Kenya Development Corporation and State Department for MSMEs to assess and update on the project’s implementation progress, highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen Kenya’s private sector and boost employment.

The project, a flagship initiative of the Government of Kenya funded by the World Bank aims to increase private sector investments, improve access to markets, and expand sustainable finance to create and enhance jobs across Kenya aligns with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) by focusing on select MSME clusters within priority value chains  namely Edible Oils, Building Materials, Textiles, Tea, Coffee, Dairy, Leather, Blue Economy, and Minerals  which were identified for their high employment potential and robust market demand.

During the meeting, special emphasis was placed on Component 2, which seeks to boost the competitiveness of MSME clusters across all 47 counties. This component provides free, generalized, and value-chain-specific training under the Business Development Services (BDS) program aimed at equipping businesses with the skills needed to improve operational efficiency and productivity.

With climate shocks as a threat to enterprises, the committee updated on scaling of Green Financing and Strengthening Climatic Resilience for SMEs which will aims to mobilize green private capital to support SMEs in adopting clean and eco-friendly technologies, providing patient capital and piloting innovative financial instruments to help businesses manage compound shocks, including climate risks.

Both the PSs emphasized the need for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery of project outcomes reiterating on the government's commitment to building a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive MSME sector while the World bank team lead by Ahmed Rostom, the KJET task leader committed to offer technical support in ensuring the project meets its set goals.

The team later paid a courtesy visit to Kiambu Constituency Industrial Development Center (CIDCs) and Ndumberi Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society, which lies under the dairy value chain.

The project provides a pathway for MSMEs to scale operations, access new markets, and enhance productivity. Through coordinated efforts and strategic support, the project aims to unlock the full potential of Kenya’s MSME sector, creating jobs and driving sustainable economic transformation.