Laikipia County government and Stanbic bank have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build strong enterprises in the county targeting Small and Medium sized enterprises, youth, women and differently abled persons in the county.
Speaking during the signing at Panari Resort in Nyahururu, Governor Ndiritu Muriithi said that the partnership aimed at supporting areas of micro small and medium enterprise growth, women and youth development.
“The partnership will support the county’s efforts towards empowering people with skills that enable them to sustain themselves and robust businesses while driving economic growth. Our focus is on both small sized and medium sized enterprises and our focus is on moving them to the next level,” the Governor said.
The partnership with the county government will be focusing on equipping the target groups through training that will impart skills to help them to expand their markets.
Stanbic Bank Chief Executive Mr. Charles Mudiwa said that the partnership would focus on training and building skills in the targeted groups in the county.
“Our areas of focus will include training the youth, giving them the required skills and also on SMEs and cooperatives and our training will focus on increasing their markets to grow their businesses,” he said.
“We will also be providing finance through grants made possible through our partnerships and normal working capital to keep them in operation. Digital solutions will be included to help them to receive our services from wherever they are,” said Mudiwa.
Head of Stanbic Bank Foundation Pauline Mbayah said that they would train the youths, farmers, cooperatives and small business owners to enable them grow through the Covid – 19 pandemic in digitizing their businesses through social media and in basic skills like book keeping.
“We have designed programmes to suit diverse business needs in order to accelerate the growth of enterprises. This is to enable them to consistently deliver quality products and services to their customers which will help in stimulating economic growth of the county. We encourage the people of Laikipia to engage with the county and with us because there are tailor-made solutions to suit their specific needs,” she said.
The partnership will also explore information communication technology innovations around renewable energy, smart cities, environment, crop development, livestock production and horticulture and climate change in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
By Rahab Naimutie and Barton Mubea
