The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) in partnership with TWIVA, an influencer-powered digital social commerce platform, and the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) have launched the third cohort of the “Twende Digital Program” to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in making bold strides towards digital transformation and youth empowerment.
Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Director of Ajira Digital Project and Youth Employment at KEPSA, Dr. Ehud Gachugu, emphasized the potential of the youth dominated population and Kenya’s reputation as Africa’s ‘Silicon Savannah’.
He urged the private sector to be proactive in job creation as he reiterated KEPSA’s goal in supporting 200,000 SMEs by 2027.
“This program aims to address key challenges like market access, financing, and digital adaptation,” highlighted Dr. Gachugu.
He added that Kenya contains roughly 70 percent of jobs coming from the private sector, making it the greatest employer which is largely driven by SMEs.
With the relentless rates of unemployment in the country, the Deputy CEO alluded that the project also promises to provide up to 300 jobs by the end of this cohort’s project and a cumulative target of 1 million jobs by 2027.
He further stressed on the crucial role of digitalization in boosting business growth and job creation.
Technical Assistant lead at KEPSA, June Mwangi, outlined five key areas that the organization focuses on to support SMEs including, capacity building, affordable financing linkages, market access, innovation challenges, and policy advocacy, tailored towards providing innovation, technology, and strategic partnerships to help Kenyan SMEs thrive in an increasingly digital economy.
She acknowledged the importance of leadership, stating that it is a business owner that sits in the place of creating initiatives and support mechanisms to capacity build SMEs.
“It doesn’t take long to build a successful business; it takes long to become the leader who does,” noted Mwangi.
She highlighted the introduction of the MSME financing gateway, a platform designed to provide SMEs with access to financial institutions, business advisory services, and operational support.
Additionally, Mwangi pointed out KEPSA’s innovation challenge, set to award Sh1.5 million this June to the winners of the competition, with an aim to spur creative solutions among youth and women entrepreneurs.
On the other hand, she acknowledged TWIVA, a stakeholder of the project, as also playing a pivotal role in connecting SMEs with digital influencers and resellers.
In a quick rejoinder, Wangari Kinyanjui a representative from TWIVA announced that the platform empowers businesses by offering free e-commerce tools, automated content creation through AI, and influencer partnerships, which are meant to stimulate the growth and support the progress of a business.
She noted that social media in Kenya carries approximately 13.05 million users, and the goal of the organization is to help SMEs tap into this digital market without incurring heavy marketing costs.
During the showcase of real-life success stories at the launch, Betty Kayenyo, founder of The Rainbow Plate, used in Catering Services shared how digital marketing transformed her catering business.
Katenyo recalled how a Facebook post landed her a catering gig for a client from the United States.
“It was a game-changer,” she said, expressing her hopes to further grow her business through TWIVA’s support.
As the digital wave sweeps across the nation, KEPSA’s message to businesses is clear: adaptability, innovation, and the embrace of technology, in order to empower the youth and increase areas of employment.
By Jesee Otieno and Clinton Ng’iela
