(Kabarnet) – Baringo County has been selected to host a regional entrepreneurship centre as part of a government initiative to establish six satellite commercial hubs across the country. The new centre will serve counties including Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, West Pokot, Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet, Samburu, and Laikipia, aiming to empower young entrepreneurs in nine priority value chains.
Principal Secretary for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development, Susan Mang’eni, announced the initiative during the closing ceremony of the two-day Baringo Business and Digital Innovation Summit at Kabarnet National Museums grounds. She revealed that the Sh3 billion programme is funded by the German government and will focus on skills development, networking, and capacity building for youth and women to enhance their self-reliance.
Mang’eni explained that the priority value chains include leather, cotton, coffee, dairy, and edible oils. She encouraged young people to enroll in technical or university programs supported by government financing to acquire the skills needed to succeed in these sectors.
“If you need a particular skill and cannot afford the funding, we will sponsor you to get the education required to launch your business,” she stated.
Youth with viable business ideas can also apply for Sh50,000 grants under a separate government programme designed to spur innovation and entrepreneurship.
The event also highlighted plans by the Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy, led by Principal Secretary Eng. John Tanui, to construct two digital hubs in Baringo early next year. The hubs, expected to be operational within four months, will provide access to online opportunities for young people and support their ventures in the digital economy.
Eng. Tanui emphasized the government’s focus on equipping youth with technical skills, noting that his department is working with the Public Service Commission to expand opportunities for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates.
Governor Benjamin Cheboi urged the youth to present innovative ideas for support and development, adding that the county is committed to building aggregation centres to streamline product exports.
The summit, themed “Unleashing Entrepreneurship and Digital Innovation for Wealth Creation,” brought together key leaders, including County Commissioner Stephen Kutwa, Kenya National Chambers of Commerce President Dr. Erick Rutto, Baringo Woman Representative Florence Jematia, and MPs Joshua Kandie (Baringo Central), Benard Kitur (Nandi Hills), and Erastus Nzioka (Mbooni). Head of Creative Economy Dennis Itumbi also attended the event.
Table: Key Program Highlights
| Initiative | Details |
|---|---|
| Regional Entrepreneurship Centre | Hosted in Baringo, serving 7 neighboring counties |
| Funding Source | Sh3 billion German government funding |
| Value Chains | Leather, cotton, coffee, dairy, edible oils |
| Youth Grants | Sh50,000 for viable business ideas |
| Digital Hubs | Two hubs operational by mid-2025 |