Uasin Gishu County Deepens Support for MSMEs Through Strategic Collaborations
He added that the initiative aligns with Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim’s agenda on economic transformation and enterprise development.
**Caption:** Uasin Gishu County renews support for MSMEs through strategic partnerships promoting innovation, IP awareness, and global competitiveness. Photo/UG County.
By Robert Assad
The Uasin Gishu County Government has renewed its commitment to empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through strengthened partnerships that promote innovation, intellectual property (IP) awareness, and global market competitiveness.
Speaking on Friday during the closing of a sensitization workshop for Jua Kali artisans and members of informal apprenticeship associations, County Director for Trade Edwin Korir—on behalf of Trade and Cooperatives CEC Martha Cheruto—stressed the county’s broader vision for economic growth.
“Economic transformation is more than just roads and markets. It’s about nurturing innovation, protecting creative ideas, and turning them into valuable enterprises,” Korir said.
He added that the initiative aligns with Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim’s agenda on economic transformation and enterprise development.
He highlighted two major county-led projects—the County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP) and the Export Processing Zone (EPZ)—as key pillars for value addition, agro-processing, and enhanced access to global markets.
These are designed to make Uasin Gishu a center of innovation and export-oriented production.
The workshop placed a strong focus on educating MSMEs about intellectual property rights—an area where many local entrepreneurs face hurdles. Over 150 participants raised concerns such as limited knowledge, complex registration procedures, and high patenting costs.
John Onyango, Managing Director of Kipikenya Institute, lauded the Jua Kali sector as critical to achieving the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). “The sector is vital in implementing BETA’s five key pillars and in supporting livelihoods across Kenya,” he noted.
Also speaking at the event, CPA Alton Kogo from the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) North Rift region highlighted national empowerment initiatives such as the NYOTA program and the Kenya Jobs for Economic Transformation Project, which aim to formalize and uplift MSMEs.
County Director for Investment and Industrialization Brenda Rono also attended, signaling strong institutional support for enterprise development.
The County Government pledged to deepen collaboration with public and private stakeholders to ensure that local businesses are not only sustainable but also globally competitive through innovation, IP protection, and expanded market access.
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