Isiolo County came alive on the 4th and 5th of June 2026, as the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) joined hands with key government institutions, development partners, and the private sector for two days of high-energy engagement, dialogue, and empowerment centered on unlocking the potential of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in the region. From a vibrant pre-event conference to a landmark national dialogue, the two days painted a vivid picture of what inclusive, grassroots-driven economic transformation truly looks like.
Proceedings opened on the 4th of June 2026 at Elboran Hotel, Isiolo, with the Isiolo County Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) Conference, organized by the County Government of Isiolo in partnership with Heifer International, Smart Regional Consultants (SRC), Merti Integrated Development Programme (MIDP), Mercy Corps, and RANGE. The conference served as a strategic curtain-raiser ahead of the much-anticipated 6th Edition of the Kenya Public-Private Sector MSMEs Dialogue, bringing together VSLAs from all ten wards of Isiolo County alongside key public and private sector stakeholders. Its primary aim was to create a platform for these grassroots associations to interact with and learn from public and private institutions, understand the services available to them, and explore how they could leverage these relationships for growth and sustainability. MSEA was among the key institutions present, alongside the Hustler Fund, Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE), the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), and the State Department for Trade, all united by a shared commitment to MSME growth.
MSEA Officers giving their remarks during the forum.
The conference featured an engaging panel discussion in which VSLA beneficiaries had the opportunity to interact directly with representatives from these institutions, asking questions and seeking clarity on how they could benefit from available services. MSEA’s representatives took the floor to sensitize participants on the Authority’s mandate, highlighting its key services and ongoing projects, including NYOTA and KJET, and encouraging participants to visit MSEA’s exhibition booth to learn more and register their groups with the Registrar of MSEs.
A particularly moving segment came when VSLA beneficiaries shared their success stories and experiences. Predominantly made up of women, these groups have become a powerful force for economic transformation in the community, enabling members to start businesses in goat farming, agribusiness, and bead-making (shangas), meet basic household needs, and, most importantly, educate their children. Local MSEs from Isiolo also showcased their diverse products at exhibition booths, with participants encouraged to support them through purchases; a fitting demonstration of community solidarity and local economic empowerment in action.
Moments captured during the panel discussion
In preparation for the following day’s dialogue, the MSME Connect Organizing Committee alongside key stakeholders paid a courtesy call to Isiolo County Commissioner, Mwachaunga Chaunga. The visit served as an important opportunity to brief the County Commissioner on the objectives and expected outcomes of the dialogue, which sought to foster stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors in championing the growth and sustainability of MSMEs. Discussions centred on the need to create an enabling environment for MSMEs through enhanced access to markets, financing, policy support, and capacity building, with the Commissioner’s engagement underscoring the critical role of county-level leadership in driving the MSME agenda forward.
Moments captured during the courtesy visit to the County Commissioner’s office.
On the 5th of June 2026, Isiolo became the heartbeat of Kenya’s MSME revolution as over 600 Micro and Small Enterprises converged for the 6th Edition of the Kenya Public-Private Sector MSMEs Dialogue, themed “Unlocking Isiolo’s MSMEs Gateway to Northern Kenya and Beyond.” The exhibition grounds were buzzing with life from the early hours of the morning as MSEs from across Isiolo County proudly showcased their diverse products, setting the tone for a day that would prove to be nothing short of transformative. The high-level nature of the forum was evident from the outset, with MSEA Director General Mr. Henry Rithaa arriving as Chief Guest representing the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Hon. Dr. Wycliffe Oparanya, flanked by Isiolo County Deputy Governor Dr. James Lowasa, County Commissioner Mwachaunga Chaunga, and the CEOs and Managing Directors of partner institutions. Before proceedings began, Mr. Rithaa led a tour of the exhibition grounds, taking time to personally interact with exhibitors, appreciating their entrepreneurial spirit and encouraging them to network and take full advantage of the resources and opportunities present at the forum.
Chief Guest, MSEA Director General Mr. Henry Rithaa accompanied by Isiolo Deputy Governor Dr. James Lowasa engaging with County Commissioner Mwachaunga Chaunga, alongside Senior MSMEs Advisor to CS Cooperatives and MSME Development Rose Mwaura, CEOs and Managing Directors of partner institutions, engaging with exhibiting MSEs during the forum.
Delivering his remarks on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Rithaa set a powerful and purposeful tone for the day, underlining the forum’s alignment with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which seeks to empower MSEs from the grassroots, including through equipping Constituency Industrial Development Centers with Common User Machines to support local production and value addition.
He acknowledged Isiolo’s unique and strategic position as a gateway to Northern Kenya, a region brimming with opportunity in livestock trade, agribusiness, and enterprise, noting that the county’s geographical advantage, combined with the creativity and resilience of its entrepreneurs, positions it as a critical connector of regions and a driver of trade and economic mobility across Northern Kenya and beyond.
He candidly addressed the challenges facing MSMEs among them access to finance, trading spaces, and regulatory barriers, while highlighting key government interventions such as the Hustler Fund and the NYOTA Fund. He noted that since its inception, Component 2 of the NYOTA business support programme has benefited 84 youth in every ward across the country, with a cumulative total of 122,000 beneficiaries nationwide. He further announced that these beneficiaries are set to receive their second tranche before the 30th of June, and that a call for applications for the second phase of NYOTA will be released in the new financial year beginning July, empowering even more youth and creating employment across the country.
Mr. Rithaa encouraged entrepreneurs to build credibility through proper record-keeping and business formalization, pointing to opportunities available through Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE), Uwezo Fund, Equity Bank, and National Bank, and urging them not only to borrow but to build the financial discipline and business structures that attract greater investment. He further emphasized the importance of value addition particularly in the livestock sector through meat processing, cold chain infrastructure, and slaughterhouses as well as the need for climate-smart enterprises that turn the challenges of drought and changing weather patterns into opportunities.
He urged the County Government of Isiolo to streamline licenses, improve trading spaces, and invest in infrastructure, while encouraging entrepreneurs to formalize their businesses to unlock market linkage opportunities including the upcoming EAC Trade Fair in Rwanda. He concluded with a powerful charge that set the tone for the entire forum; “Inclusive growth ensures that no region or enterprise is left behind.”
MSEA Director General Mr. Henry Rithaa giving his remarks during the dialogue.
The forum featured robust panel discussions centered on unlocking government services for MSMEs through infrastructure development, market access, and regulatory reform, as well as driving MSME growth through access to finance, digital transition, competitiveness, and green enterprise. MSEA Director of Business Development, Marketing and Trade, Dr. Caroline Kaua, shed light on MSEA’s mandate and functions, encouraging entrepreneurs to formalize their businesses and associations in order to fully benefit from available opportunities. Deputy Governor Dr. James Lowasa and County Commissioner Mwachaunga Chaunga also delivered remarks, noting the significant and transformative impact the MSME Connect Forum continues to have on Isiolo County and its entrepreneurial community.
Isiolo Deputy Governor Dr. James Lowasa, County Commissioner Mwachaunga Chaunga, MSEA Director of Business Development, Marketing and Trade, Dr. Caroline Kaua, giving their remarks during the dialogue.
Among the most impactful moments of the forum were the experience-sharing sessions, where MSEs took to the floor to share their journeys in business their strengths, weaknesses, and lessons learned inspiring their fellow entrepreneurs in equal measure. A dedicated Question and Answer session further gave participants a direct platform to engage with panelists on their most pressing challenges, ensuring that the dialogue was deeply rooted in the real experiences of the entrepreneurs it sought to serve.
The breadth and quality of stakeholder participation was equally remarkable, with institutions including the County Government of Isiolo, KIE, Uwezo Fund, HustlerFund, Equity Bank, Cooperative Bank, Absa Bank, Kenya Bankers Association, and KNCCI all present and engaged creating a rich ecosystem of support, resources, and opportunities for entrepreneurs to tap into.
Pictorial highlights during the forum.
