Over 2,000 Kenyan Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have received training in digital skills and e-commerce in the last one year under the BrighterMonday’s ‘e-Biz Kwa Vijana’ initiative.
The program, which was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), sought to bridge the digital talent gap while unlocking opportunities for economic empowerment of young entrepreneurs and MSMEs across Kenya.
“The success of this program indicates the strong entrepreneurial spirit in young people in Kenya today. We recognize and acknowledge the potential of e-commerce to help revolutionise the local entrepreneurial landscape by equipping young people with the necessary knowledge and tools to expand their market opportunities”, said Chris Otundo, the Chief Executive Officer at BrighterMonday Kenya,
632 SMEs were subsequently on-boarded onto online trading platforms under the one year programme which was implemented between May 2023 and June 2024.
According to BrighterMonday, 61 persons with disabilities received business coaching under the initiative with 15 getting on-boarded onto different e-commerce platforms.
The human resource company also noted that 95 pc of the MSMEs which participated in the training gained new ideas for their online businesses, with 86pc achieving their first ever online sale as a result.
“I happened to enrol in the e-Biz Kwa Vijana program right in the knick of time. Previously, I would just sit in my shop waiting for walk-in customers and relying on corporate or government tenders for opportunities which I admit are very hard to come by because of their many requirements such as huge working capital reserves which in some cases were out of our reach being an MSME”, said Lilian Wairimu, Co-Director of Jegos Enterprises which was among the beneficiaries of the project.
The Kenya MSME sector remains a vibrant landscape that boasts over 7.4 million MSMEs, comprising mainly of young entrepreneurs. Spanning various sectors, from farming and agribusiness to logistics, general trade, merchandising and services, they reportedly contribute about 40pc of the country’s gross domestic product.
According to Michael Mandu, the Acting Secretary for Trade in the State Department for Trade, Kenya has witnessed steady e-commerce growth in recent years. The country is currently established as a leader in digital trade within the African continent and globally with combined revenues in the sector amounting to Ksh. 385 billion as at 2023.
“A large share of this revenue is attributable to MSMEs, and youth run enterprises that provide jobs and sustainable livelihoods while also nurturing digital talents in the country. The Kenya National E-commerce Strategy is therefore not just a policy document but a testament to our commitment to creating an environment where businesses can thrive, where entrepreneurs can innovate, and where every citizen can participate in the digital economy”, said Mandu.
