Manufacturing SMEs in Kenya that have been hard hit by the pandemic are being thrown a lifeline to, among other things, secure their cash flows and meet financial obligations.

In a two-year partnership between NCBA Bank Kenya and the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), at least 300 SMEs in the manufacturing sector will gain access to capacity-building programmes, financial solutions as well as markets via exhibitions, regional and international trade missions. The initiative is aimed at SMEs that have been heavily affected by the country’s second lockdown, which was imposed in March and has been extended to the end of May.

‘SME owners have experienced dramatic falls in business activity and revenues due to restrictions arising from the pandemic,’ says Tirus Mwithiga, NCBA Bank Kenya’s retail banking group director. ‘We care about SMEs and so we would like to encourage entrepreneurs to take advantage of the opportunities presented under this deal.’

KAM chief executive Phyllis Wakiaga says the association hopes to ‘nurture and grow manufacturing SMEs to be competitive and take full advantage of available markets’ via its Manufacturing SME Hub, which provides technical and specialised management training and services.

4 April 2021
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