Stanbic Kenya Foundation and German development agency GIZ have graduated 351 entrepreneurs under a programme targeting business growth, job creation and green economic transformation in Western Kenya.
The entrepreneurs, drawn from 10 counties, participated in the Women Employment for the Green Transformation (WE4D) programme, which supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve productivity, access finance and adopt environmentally sustainable business practices.
The initiative has reached 706 business owners and supported 2,378 jobs, including 1,591 held by young people and 32 by persons with disabilities.
Women accounted for 85 percent of the graduating cohort, highlighting the programme’s focus on expanding economic opportunities for women and young people.
The beneficiaries came from Kisumu, Kericho, Kisii, Nyamira, Homa Bay, Uasin Gishu, Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega and Vihiga counties.
Agriculture and agro-processing accounted for the largest share of businesses supported, alongside enterprises in aquaculture, manufacturing, recycling, sustainable tourism and natural health products.
Michael Mutiga, chief executive of Stanbic Bank Kenya and South Sudan, said the programme was helping businesses improve productivity, create jobs and strengthen local supply chains.
“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,” he said.
He added that helping enterprises grow and access wider markets would extend their economic impact beyond local communities.
Mercy Githanji, executive director and head of Stanbic Kenya Foundation, said the next phase would focus on helping small businesses access markets, financing and technical expertise to expand their operations.
“As we celebrate this graduation, our focus now is on helping SMEs access markets, financing, technical expertise and growth opportunities,” she said.
The foundation said the programme had helped participating businesses improve record-keeping, governance, staff management, contracting and regulatory compliance.
Entrepreneurs also reported gaining new customers, securing supply contracts and developing export opportunities through connections with industry players.
Some businesses expanded their operations and recruited more workers, while others developed solutions in waste recycling, climate-smart agriculture, value addition and sustainable tourism.
The programme seeks to address challenges that often constrain small businesses, including limited access to formal financing, markets and business development support.
In Kenya, WE4D combines business training, access to formal finance, market linkages and support for green job creation. The initiative aims to help enterprises move beyond survival-level operations towards sustainable growth.
The programme was commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and co-funded by the European Union and the Norwegian Government.
Its focus on greener production and inclusive employment comes as Kenya seeks to expand opportunities for women and young people while strengthening the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
The partnership brings together development agencies, private-sector players and county-level businesses to promote enterprise development and climate resilience.
Stanbic Kenya Foundation said it would continue working with development partners, county governments and Stanbic Bank teams to help businesses scale up, access new markets and create jobs.
The programme also supports wider efforts to promote responsible production, strengthen local value chains and help businesses adapt to climate-related risks.
