Nairobi governor Mike Sonko.Photo/buzzkenya
Nairobi county government has resolved to award one in three tenders to women and youth
The group is set to receive requisite training on entrepreneurial skills.
This is according to resolutions arrived at during a meeting between Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko and the Nairobi chapter of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) last week.During the meeting, for small and medium businesses to thrive the chamber undertook to work closely with the county government to create a conducive environment.According to Mr Richard Ngatia the chairman of KNCCI, Nairobi Chapter, the business lobby will build networks with neighbouring county governments of Kajiado, Kiambu and Machakos to support local SMEs.The chamber plans to create a database of small firms to ensure structured engagement and better coordination. The same will link consumers and providers of goods and services in the four devolved units.The chamber will develop an “Ease of Doing Business Index” and a “Small Business Index” for Nairobi county to help track the success of small businesses and their potential impact on jobs and the economy said Mr Ngatia.They both resolved to mobilise development partners and philanthropists to develop a small grants-cum-business loan initiative to be managed by a reputable firm. The move will see SMEs in Nairobi and neighbouring counties benefit from loans to enable them to exploit the provision of 30 per cent supply tenders, as envisaged in national laws.Nairobi county government and the chamber also agreed to establish a database for small and medium enterprises to help improve engagement and lobbying and a youth employment hub for publishing job opportunities.