Government Intensifies Efforts to Safeguard Jua Kali Production Zones and MSME Workspaces

This morning, Pricipal Secretary Susan Mangéni convened the inaugural meeting of the technical working group that was set up following a Presidential directive to find a lasting solution to the long-standing land issues that engulf the Jua Kali sector working spaces across the country.

The meeting brought together representatives from the Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations, the Office of the Deputy President of Kenya, the State Department for Industry, the State Department for Interior and National Administration, the State Department for Planning, the Council of Governors, the National Land Commission, the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority and our State Department.

The State Department has a mandate to decriminalise work and ensure MSMEs operate in safe, dignified and legally recognised working spaces. However, many Jua Kali sites across the country remain under litigation due to land grabbing despite being designated as common-user production zones intended to support artisans and small manufacturers.

These spaces are critical for providing technical support and shared production environments that enable MSMEs to build capacity, reduce operational costs, and achieve economies of scale. Some of these sites occasionally conflict with the development of critical infrastructure such as roads, highlighting the need for better spatial planning and coordination between national and county governments.

The State Department is currently steering the development of a National MSME Formalisation Policy, which provides a policy window to redefine the structure and governance of Jua Kali Associations while strengthening the sector’s integration into the formal economy.

The Technical Working Group will coordinate engagements across government institutions and stakeholders to secure land for Jua Kali clusters, protect existing workspaces, and unlock the full economic potential of Kenya’s MSME sector.