The Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), in partnership with Buuri Constituency Member of Parliament, Hon. Mugambi Rindikiri, has intensified efforts to empower youth through targeted capacity building and enterprise support, culminating in the issuance of startup toolkits to youth groups under the Ujuzi Mashinani Programme.
The empowerment forum also marked the graduation of 1,320 young beneficiaries drawn from Buuri Constituency, who successfully completed Business Development Services (BDS) training. The training focused on building essential entrepreneurial competencies, including financial management, business planning, and market-oriented production, positioning the youth to effectively utilize the tools provided and manage viable enterprises.
MSEA Henry Rithaa, Addressing beneficiaries of the Ujuzi Mashinani program.
During the graduation, 40 youth enterprise groups were equipped with essential tools of trade tailored to their areas of specialization. These included sewing machines, salon kits, electrical toolkits, vehicle diagnostic equipment, welding machines and grinders, as well as hot food trolleys and umbrellas, resources that will enable the groups to immediately operationalize their skills and generate income.
The event was presided over by Hon. Patrick Kilemi, Principal Secretary for Cooperatives, who represented the Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development. In his remarks, he reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to scaling youth empowerment initiatives across the country. He highlighted ongoing projects such as the NYOTA Project, which targets to empower up to 121,800 youth through comprehensive business support, as well as the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET) Project, which focuses on strengthening priority value chains to enhance productivity and competitiveness. He emphasized the importance of aligning youth skills development with market demands to ensure meaningful employment and enterprise growth.
Top left: PS Patrick Kilemi, State Department for cooperatives making his remarks.
Speaking during the forum, MSEA Director General, Mr. Henry Rithaa, underscored the Authority’s role in advancing youth enterprise development in line with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). He noted that over 3,700 youth in Meru County have already benefited from business startup capital under various programmes, reinforcing the “pesa mfukoni” approach that seeks to place resources directly in the hands of young entrepreneurs.
He further emphasized that the integration of skills training, toolkits, and financial support is critical in building resilient enterprises, enabling youth to move beyond subsistence activities into scalable and sustainable businesses.
The Ujuzi Mashinani Programme exemplifies the impact of strategic partnerships between national government institutions and local leadership in delivering inclusive development. By working closely with constituency and county stakeholders, MSEA continues to expand access to opportunities for youth, particularly at the grassroots level.
As the Authority deepens these partnerships, the focus remains on nurturing youth-led enterprises to scale, create employment, and contribute meaningfully to local economic development, advancing a more inclusive and empowered MSME sector.
Pictorial
