Turkana North has surpassed the set target in the just concluded Chamber Business Profiling and Registration.
The exercise targeted 1500 entrepreneurs in a bid to profile and register them as Chamber Members along the entire Turkana North belt.
During the exercise that concluded on Thursday, more than 1,700 entrepreneurs were profiled and more than 500 of them were able to register with the Chamber during the three days’ exercise.
Business Profiling/Registration is one of the key deliverables under the International Labour Organization PROSPECTS-KNCCI Turkana Program Targeting the Host Community and the refugees. The program is anchored on the urgent need to promote entrepreneurs from the refugee setup as well as the host community.
In the ILO PROSPECTS- Turkana Chamber Program, the Profiling exercise was set to assess the various specific needs of the entrepreneurs to inform the next phase of business training. The training will be tailored to meet gaps and needs identified during the Business Profiling exercise.
Registration as chamber members for Turkana North Traders will mean that they will be in a position to benefit from business advocacy, market linkages, linkage to finance access, business training among other Chamber Membership services.
“We appreciate efforts of Turkana North Business owners for responding positively to the just concluded Businesses Profiling and Registration. As the Chamber, we promise our Commitment as the Voice of Business community and we are going to champion the main issues that will promote businesses in Turkana North and even utilize opportunities for Cross border trade between Kenya and Ethiopia,” said Turkana County KNCCI Chairman Mr Pius Ewoton.
Across the County, results for the other Sub-Counties profiled Businesses were: Turkana Central recorded 1, 528, Turkana West-1497, Turkana South-1278, Loima-669 and Turkana East 379.
During the same exercise, more than 780 refugee businesses were profiled in the spirit of economic integration and inclusivity.
The Countywide exercise targeted 10,000 businesses and the chamber was able to profile 7750 operational business giving a 77.5% success of the profiling exercise. This will inform the workings of the chamber in promoting enabling environment for the private sector.
Ewoton said there was still need to reach out to more entrepreneurs especially in areas of Kibish, Lokamarnyang, Kaikor and the entire lake zone region and the Chamber is working towards actualizing that in Turkana North and replicate that in the other Sub-Counties.
The Exercise was spearheaded by Terry Ayangan Chamber Director for Turkana North and Gabriel Ewoton, Turkana North Chamber Member.
By Peter Gitonga
