Nairobi,27 June 2026 -President William Ruto has called on the private sector to work with government in creating innovative and inclusive financing models to address Kenya’s Sh3 trillion MSME funding shortfall.
Speaking during the 2026 World Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day in Nairobi, Dr Ruto said it is neither sustainable nor fair for most micro and small businesses, the backbone of Kenya’s economy, to be locked out of the capital they need to scale, innovate, and employ more Kenyans.
Held under the theme “Human-Centred Entrepreneurship in an AI-Driven Future,” Ruto said lenders should stop treating the unbanked as a risk to be avoided.
“They represent a huge opportunity, a dynamic market ready to be served, empowered, and brought into the formal economy,” he said. “We reaffirm our government’s commitment to stand with our entrepreneurs.”
The President pledged continued policy support to help MSMEs grow, expand, create jobs, and contribute more to Kenya’s prosperity.
Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development (CS) Wycliffe Oparanya echoed the President’s position, saying the Ministry is prioritizing financial inclusion.
“We no longer view the unbanked as a risk, but as a major opportunity to drive enterprise growth, widen access to affordable finance, and fast-track economic transformation,” Oparanya stated.
He said the Ministry is banking on partnerships, new financing models, and targeted interventions to create a conducive environment for businesses to formalize, innovate, and compete locally and globally.
“Our goal is clear: implement transformative policies that enable MSMEs to thrive, generate sustainable jobs, drive industrialization, and build economic resilience,” CS Oparanya added. “By improving market access and enterprise support, we are building an inclusive, competitive MSME ecosystem that leaves no entrepreneur behind.”
The event was attended by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Principal Secretaries Susan Mang’eni and Patrick Kilemi, and other stakeholders in the MSME sector.
