The businesses operate across Kisumu, Kericho, Kisii, Nyamira, Homa Bay, Uasin Gishu, Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega and Vihiga counties The WE4D programme combines business training with support for access to formal financing, market linkages and green job creation.
It targets enterprises seeking to improve their competitiveness while reducing their environmental impact. /HANDOUT A total of 351 entrepreneurs across 10 counties in Western Kenya have completed a business support programme aimed at helping small enterprises grow, create jobs and adopt environmentally sustainable practices.
The entrepreneurs graduated from the Women Employment for the Green Transformation (WE4D) programme, implemented by Stanbic Kenya Foundation in partnership with German development agency GIZ. The programme has reached 706 business owners whose enterprises collectively support 2,378 jobs, including 1,591 held by young people and 32 by persons with disabilities.
Women accounted for 85 per cent of the graduating entrepreneurs, highlighting the programme's focus on expanding economic opportunities for women and young people. The businesses operate across Kisumu, Kericho, Kisii, Nyamira, Homa Bay, Uasin Gishu, Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega and Vihiga counties.
Agriculture and agro-processing accounted for the largest share of enterprises, followed by businesses in aquaculture, manufacturing, recycling, sustainable tourism and natural health products. The initiative seeks to address some of the challenges facing small and medium-sized enterprises, including limited access to financing, markets and business development support.
Stanbic Bank Kenya and South Sudan chief executive Michael Mutiga said the programme was designed to help businesses improve productivity, adopt climate-conscious practices and become better positioned to attract investment. “By helping women- and youth-led businesses raise productivity, adopt climate-conscious practices and become investment-ready, we are supporting decent jobs, stronger local value chains and more resilient county economies,” said Mutiga.
Stanbic Kenya Foundation executive director Mercy Githanji said the next priority was to help businesses secure financing, access markets and obtain technical support to expand their operations.