MSME census set to provide fresh data for targeted support, says Oparanya

Kenya is set to carry out a nationwide census of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to gather fresh data that will help improve planning, policy, and support for the sector.

Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSME Development Wycliffe Oparanya announced the upcoming exercise during the launch of a national coordinating committee for the MSME International Trade Fair, scheduled for November 2025.

Oparanya explained that the last MSME census was conducted in 2016 and stressed the urgent need for updated information to guide government interventions and resource allocation.

“We need to carry out a survey to know where these MSMEs are concentrated. Once we know this, we can effectively channel resources and support through our key focus areas,” he said.

The CS highlighted that the absence of current data has been a major obstacle in delivering targeted assistance, particularly in financing, market access, digital adoption, and climate resilience, four critical areas identified by the government to boost MSME growth.

Oparanya emphasised the importance of MSMEs as one of the five pillars of Kenya’s economic transformation agenda and warned that neglecting the sector’s needs could deepen economic frustrations.

“We can build roads and infrastructure, but if we do not focus on creating jobs and economic activity through MSMEs, we will still have demonstrations on those same roads,” he remarked.

To enhance financial access, the government is rolling out a credit guarantee fund designed to reduce the risks lenders face when dealing with small businesses, which traditionally have limited access to bank loans due to perceived high risks.

The CS also stressed the need to remove trade barriers within the East African Community and leverage Kenya’s widespread mobile phone use to accelerate digital transformation across MSMEs.

Oparanya further pointed to global trends, noting that MSMEs have become a priority under the G20 agenda during South Africa’s upcoming presidency.

He shared experiences from a recent global MSME ministerial conference in South Africa, attended by over 40 ministers, where there was broad agreement that MSMEs play a key role in economic recovery and stability worldwide.

The CS announced plans to expand MSME Connect, a platform that brings together government bodies, private sector players, academia, and regulators such as the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

The platform aims to foster a more supportive business environment, addressing concerns about KRA’s treatment of small traders.

“The KRA has often been seen as harassing small businesses. Their presence here today is important as we seek to create a more enabling environment,” Oparanya said.

He urged organisers of the MSME International Trade Fair, which will be held in Nairobi from November 2 to 3, to ensure strong representation from all relevant government ministries and partner states.

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• says Oparanya

Oparanya also encouraged participants to learn from successful MSME models in countries such as India, Brazil, and Germany, where businesses receive immediate financing after winning tenders and prompt payments—a stark contrast to Kenya, where delays in payments have caused many enterprises to fail.

“In Kenya, businesses wait years to be paid, and many collapse in the process. We must fix this,” he stated.

The Ministry’s Principal Secretary, Susan Mang’eni, said the launch marks a major step in preparing Kenya to host the regional MSME trade fair from November 1 to 10, 2025. The event will bring together entrepreneurs from across East Africa to network, trade, and showcase innovation.