Nairobi County had unveiled a new programme to support small and medium enterprises, promising a much-needed boost to the city’s economic activities.
The Biashara Stimulus Programme was announced by Governor Johnson Sakaja during the East Africa MSME Trade Fair, aiming to help traders navigate the current challenging business environment.
The programme is designed to offer affordable financing, business training, digitisation support, and improved access to markets. While the county has not disclosed the total budget or rollout date, Sakaja confirmed that two strategic partners have already signed contracts to implement the initiative.
“I will soon be rolling out the Biashara Stimulus Programme, which is at the heart of offering affordable financing, skill development, digitisation, market access and enterprise formalisation to traders,” the governor said.
He added, “We will be rolling it out with two strategic partners who have already signed contracts. The programme will subsidise the cost of credit to MSMEs across all the 85 wards.”
To qualify, an enterprise must have been in operation for a minimum of two years. All beneficiaries will participate in a three-day training session on business management and entrepreneurship.
Sakaja emphasized the importance of SMEs, describing them as “the backbone of the city’s economic life.” He highlighted that the sector generates employment, drives innovation, strengthens value chains, and supports both local and cross-border trade.
The county is also working to create a more business-friendly environment by reducing regulatory barriers that make it costly and slow to operate. A major reform is the Unified Business Permit, which combines multiple licences into a single document.
“The permit simplifies operations for business owners and has enhanced our revenue collection. Currently, we have 190,925 registered businesses under UBP, of which 95,022 are either SMEs or MSMEs,” Sakaja said.
Infrastructure improvements are also a key focus, with ongoing upgrades and modernisation of market spaces to ensure traders have clean, accessible locations to operate.
By combining subsidised credit, streamlined permits, and improved market infrastructure, Nairobi County aims to stabilise small and medium businesses and strengthen the city’s overall economic competitiveness.
